LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

University  of  California. 

Mrs.  SARAH  P.  WALSWORTH. 

Received  October,  18^4. 
.z^ccessions  No,bj  J  L^      Clcvss  No. 


Illork0 

OF 

THE  REV.  JOHN  HARRIS,  D.D., 

PUBLISHED   BY 

GOULD,  KENDALL  &  LINCOLN. 


I. 

THE   GREAT  COMMISSION: 

OB,  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH  CONSTITUTED  AND  CHARGED  TO 
CONVEY  THE  GOSPEL  TO  THE  WORLD. 

With  an  Introductory  Essay,  by  William  R,  Williams,  D.D. 

II. 

THE  GREAT  TEACHER : 

OR,  CHARACTERISTICS   OF    OUR    LORD's   MINISTRY. 

Introductory  Essay,  by  Heman  Humphrey,  D.D., 
President  of  Amherst  College. 

III. 

MAMMON: 

OR,  COVETOUSNESS  THE  SIN  OF  THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH. 

A  Prize  Essay. 

IV. 
UNION: 

OR,  THE  DIVIDED  CHURCH   MADE   ONE. 

V. 
ZEBULON: 

OR,   THE   CONDITION   AND   CLAIMS   OF   SEAMEN. 

A  Prize  Essay.    Edited  by  Rev.  W.  M  Rogers  and  D.  M.  Lord. 

VI. 
THE  CHRISTIAN  CITIZEN : 

Paper,  gilt  edges. 

VIL 
THE  GOLDEN  CENSER : 

or,  a  VISIT  TO  THE  HOUSE   OF    PRAYER. 

Paper,  gilt  edges. 


SERMONS  AND  ESSAYS 


MISCELLANIES; 


CONSISTING  PRINCIPALLY  OF 


SEEMONS  AND   ESSAYS 


REV.  JOHN  HARRIS,  D.D., 

AUTHOR   OF     "mammon,"    "  UNION,"   "  THE   GREAT   TEACHER," 

"the  great  commission,"  &C.,  «&C. 


WITH 

INTRODUCTION  AND  NOTES, 
BY    JOSEPIL-MU*jCHER,  D.  D. 


-^:£^mA.^: 


OF  THB 

BOSTON: 
GOULD,  KENDALL  AND  LINCOLN, 

59  WASHINGTON   STREET. 

1844. 


vO  A  7-2.  3  3 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1844, 

By  GOULD,  KENDALL  &  LINCOLN, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  Massachusetts. 


>7/^i. 


WEST  BROOKFIELD. 
C.  A.  MIRICK,  PRINTER. 


CONTENTS. 


SERMONS. 

Page 
London  :  On  behalf  of  the  Christian  Instruction  Society.  .  .  17 
Christian  Patriotism  :  Before  the  Home  Missionary  Society.    .    48 

Importance  of  an  Educated  Ministry;:  Preparatory  to  the 

opening  of  the  Lancashire  College 75 

The  Conversion  of  the  Jews  :  Before  the  British   Society 

for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  among  the  Jews  .        .  103 

Prayer  for  Christ  :  On  behalf  of  the  Wesleyan  Missionary 

Society 129 

Epistle  to  the  Church  in  Smyrna  :  Anniversary  at  Clay- 
land's  Chapel 151 

The  House  of  Prayer  :  Re-opening  of  Trevor  Chapel         .        .  171 

Christian    Excellence  :    Delivered    at    Holywell     Mount 

Chapel         . 193 


ESSAYS,  &c. 


The  Bible    .        . 219 

Divine  Condescension 225 

Divine  Condescension,  Human  Exaltation       ....  230 

A  Seasonable  Recollection 236 

The  True  Kindred  op  Christ 241 


Vlll  CONTENTS. 

Page 
Intercessory  Prayer .       .        .247 

Christianity  no  Persecutor 254 

The  Coming  Spring 261 

The  Leap .        .        .        .        .267 

Egotism 271 

Character  of  John  Foster  as  a  Writer 277 

Memoir  of  Mrs.  Harris 284 


INTRODUCTION. 


When  an  author  has  been  successful  in  gaining  the 
attention  of  the  public,  that  public  have  not  only  evinced 
an  anxiety  to  derive  instruction  from  whatever  his  pen  has 
furnished,  but  to  ascertain  what  may  be  known  of  his 
personal  history,  habits,  and  character.  On  this  account 
it  may  be  desirable  that  a  few  facts  should  be  stated  in 
connexion  with  a  writer  who  has  met  with  high  accep- 
tance from  the  Christian  community  of  the  United  States, 
before  whom  a  new  volume  of  his  works  is  now  placed ; — 
a  volume,  in  its  collected  form,  as  yet  unknown  in  Great 
Britain.  The  writer  of  this  sketch  having  long  enjoyed 
an  intimate  friendship  with  Dr.  Harris,  and  been  connect- 
ed with  him  in  matters  both  personally  and  relatively  im- 
portant, professes  an  acquaintance  with  his  subject,  and 
rejoices  that  he  has  a  task  in  the  performance  of  which  he 
is  exposed  to  but  little  danger  of  exaggerated  statements. 
He  trusts,  that  the  time  is  very  far  distant,  when  the  most 
important  duty  of  the  biographer, — that  of  detailing  the 
private  intercourse  of  the  Christian  and  the  author,  and  to 
present  his  character  as  a  preacher  and  tutor — shall  need 
to  be  performed. 

A  village,  called  Ugborough,  near  Modbury,  in  the 
county  of  Devon,  gave  birth  to  John  Harris,  in  the  year 
1804.  To  wealth  or  worldly  honour  his  parents  had  no 
claim.  They  were,  however,  esteemed  for  their  correct 
moral,  and  Christian  deportment.      The  father  of  our 


X  INTRODUCTION. 

friend  now  resides  in  the  metropolis  of  Great  Britain  to 
enjoy  the  filial  gratitude  of  his  honoured  son,  and  to  re- 
joice, as  a  father  and  a  Christian,  in  his  success  and  his 
popularity. 

While  he  was  young,  John  Harris  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Bristol,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Sunday  school 
connected  with  the  Tabernacle  in  that  city.  At  this  peri- 
od of  his  life,  I  have  reason  to  know  that  his  ready  obedi- 
ence, amiable  manners,  and  cheerful  sociability,  secured 
for  him  the  high  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him.  Nor  were 
indications  wanted,  even  then,  of  that  brilliant  genius, 
and  that  determined  labour  in  the  acquirement  of  learning, 
for  which  he  has  since  become  eminently  distinguished. 
His  love  of  reading  was  far  beyond  the  power  of  his 
means  to  supply,  and  his  society  was  most  highly  valued 
by  those  who  best  knew  him.  I  have  heard  Mr.  Harris 
relate,  in  his  own  playful  and  interesting  manner,  an  ac- 
count of  a  visit  once  paid  to  the  Sunday  school  by  the  dis- 
tinguished Joseph  Lancaster,  known  in  both  hemispheres 
as  an  eminent  instructor  of  the  young,  who,  with  a  happy 
instinct,  singled  him  out  as  the  first  lad  of  the  school.  It 
happened  at  that  time  that  a  Mr.  Bird,  a  popular  lecturer 
on  astronomy,  who,  we  believe,  still  resides  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Windsor,  was  then  lecturing  on  his  favourite 
science  at  Bristol ;  and  Lancaster,  by  a  note  still  in  exist- 
ence, introduced  his  little  friend  to  the  lecturer,  as  one 
who  would  greatly  profit  by  an  attendance  on  his  instruc- 
tions. The  lectures  to  which  he  thus  listened,  opened  to 
his  mind  worlds,  and  systems,  and  facts,  which  astonished 
and  delighted  him,  and  contributed  in  no  small  degree  to 
expand  his  understanding,  and  increase  his  thirst  after 
knowledge. 

Having  given  evidence  of  the  power  of  religion  on  his 
heart,  and  become  connected  with  the  Christian  church  in 
whose  Sunday  school  he  had  been  taught  the  doctrines  of 


INTRODUCTION. 


the  Saviour,  he  entered  the  College  at  Hoxton,  to  prepare 
for  the  duties  of  the  Christian  ministry,  in  the  year  1823, 
when  scarcely  nineteen.  Here  his  character  became  more 
fully  developed,  and  those  who  were  most  fully  qualified 
to  form  a  judgment,  predicted  that  he  would  attain  to  no 
small  eminence  among  his  compeers. 

Having  completed  his  preparatory  studies  at  this 
*' school  of  the  prophets,"  in  1827,  Mr.  Harris  became 
the  pastor  of  a  small  church  of  Independents,  or  Congre- 
gationalists,  at  Epsom  in  Surry.  Here,  surrounded  by 
an  affectionate  and  increasing  congregation,  he  cultivated 
his  personal  religion,  and  acquired  large  stores  of  general 
and  scriptural  learning.  His  mind,  equally  capacious  and 
clear,  is  remarkable  for  its  readiness  in  apprehending  truth 
in  all  its  aspects  and  connexions  ;  while  blessed  with  a 
retentive  memory,  he  never  seems  for  a  moment  to  forget 
what  he  has  once  known. 

Beyond  a  very  limited  circle  around  Epsom,  Mr.  Harris 
was  scarcely  known  for  eight  or  nine  years  after  his  ordi- 
nation ;  but  all  this  time  the  Great  Head  of  the  church 
was  preparing  him  for  his  present  extensive  and  success- 
ful labours.  In  this  secluded  situation  he  wrote  the  man- 
uscript of  his  "  Great  Teacher, '^^  which,  after  several 
disappointments,  he  was  enabled  to  present  to  the  world. 
The  writer  of  this  sketch  will  always  remember,  with  de- 
vout gratitude  to  God,  that  he  was  selected  as  the  agent 
to  introduce  the  author  to  an  acquaintance  with  the  public 
through  the  press.  This  work  was  silently,  but  certainly, 
making  a  deep  impression  on  the  public  mind,  when  an 
event  occurred  which  at  once  raised  him  to  the  pinnacle  of 
fame. 

About  the  time  of  the  publication  of  ^'  The  Great 
Teacher,^''  Dr.  Conquest,  a  Christian  physician  in  Lon- 
don, offered  a  prize  of  one  hundred  guineas  for  the  best 


XU  INTRODUCTION. 

essay  against  the  Sin  of  Covetousness,  constituting  the 
Rev.  Dr.  J.  P.  Smith  and  the  Hon.  and  Rev.  Baptist 
Noel  the  adjudicators.  Mr.  Harris,  after  carefully  sur- 
veying the  subject,  determined  to  become  a  competitor ; 
and  though  nearly  one  hundred  and  fifty  persons  were  can- 
didates with  him,  to  the  delight,  but  not  to  the  surprise,  of 
his  most  intimate  friends,  he  carried  away  the  prize.  Of 
this  work,  nearly  forty  thousand  copies  have  been  sold  in 
Great  Britain,  and  about  the  same  number  in  the  United 
States.  Its  influence  on  the  Christian  world  is  already 
known  to  have  been  great,  in  increasing  the  funds  of  be- 
nevolent institutions  ;  but  I  apprehend  that  its  most  emi- 
nent usefulness  has  yet  to  appear ;  for  I  have  been  per- 
sonally assured  by  a  professional  gentleman  of  undoubted 
veracity,  that  he  can  testify  to  its  mighty  influence  on  the 
authors  of  wills,  involving  property  to  an  amount  which, 
if  stated,  would  scarce  be  credited. 

Shortly  after  the  publication  of  ''Mammon,^''  the  com- 
mittee of  the  British  and  Foreign  Sailors'  Society  in  Lon- 
don offered  a  prize  for  the  best  essay  on  the  claims  of  sea- 
men to  the  regard  of  the  Christian  world  ;  when  Mr.  Harris 
again  became  the  successful  competitor,  and  published  his 
work  under  the  title  of ''  Britannia,^''  having  first  received 
from  his  late  majesty,  William  lY.,  a  beautiful  letter, 
authorizing  the  dedication  of  the  volume  to  his  majesty. 
This  admirable  work  has  also  been  republished  in  the 
United  States,  under  the  altered  title  of  '^  Zehulon.''^ 

But  we  cannot  now  dilate,  as  we  would,  on  his  ^^  Chris- 
tian Citizen,'''^  his  "  Witnessing  Church,^''  his  ''  Union, ^"^ 
or  the  productions  of  his  pen  composing  this  volume  ;  all 
these  have  combined  with  his  previous  labours  to  place 
him  in  the  very  first  rank  of  theological  authors.  Nor 
has  his  eminence  been  at  all  lessened  by  the  decision 
of  Drs.   Welsh,   Wardlaw,  and  Bunting,  and  the  Rev. 


INTRODUCTION.  XUl 

Messrs.  Crisp  and  Melvill,  that  he  was  entitled  to  the 
prize  of  two  hundred  guineas  for  his  essay  on  Christian 
Missions,  published  under  the  title  of  "  The  Great  Com- 
mission,''^ 

The  theological  chair  at  Cheshunt  College  having  be- 
come vacant  by  the  decease  of  the  Rev.  W.  Broadfoot, 
the  trustees  of  that  institution,  in  1837,  presented  to  Mr. 
Harris  a  most  cordial  and  unanimous  request  to  occupy  it. 
He  acceeded  to  their  wishes,  and  entered  on  his  duties  in 
the  early  part  of  1838.  Over  this  institution  may  he  long 
continue  to  preside  with  the  ability  and  success  which 
have  hitherto  distinguished  his  career.  In  June  of  that 
year  he  became  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Wrangham, 
of  Epsom,  a  connexion  of  the  venerable  archdeacon  of 
that  name.  This  lady,  every  way  worthy  of  the  high 
station  she  filled,  and  who  was  beloved  by  all  to  whom  she 
was  known,  has  since,  with  her  venerated  uncle,  passed 
to  another  state  of  existence  ;  and  it  will  become  the  duty 
and  privilege  of  the  reader,  before  he  lays  aside  this  vol- 
ume, to  peruse  a  short  but  deeply  affecting  sketch  of  her 
removal  and  character,  from  the  pen  of  her  bereaved  hus- 
band. In  September  of  the  same  year  the  College  of 
Amherst,  in  the  United  States,  (the  president  of  which, 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Humphrey,  had  republished  his  ''  Great 
Teacher,'^  with  an  able  introduction,)  conferred  on  Mr. 
Harris  the  degree  of  D.D. 

As  a  preacher,  no  man  in  England  is  more  popular  than 
Dr.  Harris.  With  a  beautifully  sweet  and  distinct  voice, 
he  unites  a  most  attractive  manner,  and  a  style  of  delivery 
which  commands  general  admiration,  while  the  thoroughly 
evangelical  character  of  his  discourses  makes  them  equal- 
ly acceptable  to  believers  in  Jesus  of  every  class.  This 
is  indeed  evident  from  the  fact  that  Christians  of  every 
denomination  invite  his  services,  and  flock  by  thousands  to 
the  chapels  where  he  preaches.     The  missionary  societies 


XIV  INTRODUCTION. 

connected  with  the  Independents,  the  Wesleyans,  and  the 
Baptists,  have  all  sought  and  been  favoured  with  his  aid 
on  their  anniversaries. 

We  have  already  intimated  that  Dr.  Harris's  works 
have  be(wi  republished  in  the  United  States,  where  they 
have  attracted  unprecedented  interest. 

It  will  be  seen  that  in  drawing  up  this  account  I  have 
said  but  little  in  the  way  of  eulogy.  I  would  wish  to 
allow  facts  to  speak  for  themselves  ;  Dr.  Harris  needs  no 
flattery  ;  nor  even  that  friendship  should  convey  its  im- 
pressions to  others  through  the  medium  of  language. 
Many  of  the  productions  of  his  mind  are  before  the  pub- 
lic, let  them  proclaim  his  intellectual  character  ;  the  ardent 
piety,  and  the  disinterested  generosity  of  his  heart  are 
best  known  to  those  who  have  been  most  intimately  asso- 
ciated with  him. 


In  introducing  to  the  reader  the  volume  now  in  his 
hands,  it  does  not  appear  to  me  necessary  to  write  more 
than  a  very  few  sentences.  Each  separate  production  ■ 
will  tell  its  own  tale ;  in  three  or  four  instances  I  have 
intruded  a  short  explanatory  note  on  the  attention  of  those 
who  may  be  induced  to  examine  the  volume. 

The  Sermons  have  all  of  them  been  separately  publish- 
ed, in  London.  The  four  first  under  the  author's  own 
revision,  and  the  four  last  were  carefully  taken  down,  by 
eminent  short-hand  writers,  as  he  read  from  his  manu- 
scripts in  the  pulpit.  I  have  his  own  testimony  that  they 
are  admirably  correct. 

As  to  the  Essays,  the  far  larger  number  of  them  were 
expressly  written  by  Dr.  Harris  for  insertion  in  a  periodi- 
cal which  I  conducted  in  London,  and  they  were  all  print- 
ed from  his  own  MSS.      They  were  published  anony- 


INTRODUCTION.  XV 

mously,  but  excited  universal  admiration  among  the 
readers  of  the  work  referred  to.  One  paper,  included  in 
this  department  was  written  for  an  American  Annual  a 
few  years  since,  and  three  other  short  papers  were  taken 
from  a  periodical  long  since  extinct,  Dr.  H.  having  dis- 
tinctly acknowledged  their  authorship  in  communications 
to  myself. 

I  have  now  only  to  express  my  hope  for  the  favourable 
reception  of  this  volume  among  American  Christians,  and 
to  present  my  most  fervent  prayer  that  it  may  advance  the 
glory  of  God.  This,  I  am  sure  will  gratify  alike  the 
author  of  the  volume,  and  its  Editor. 

New  York,  May,  1844. 


TYJl 


LONDON: 
A  SERMON 


IN    BEHALF    OF    THE    CHRISTIAN  INSTRUCTION  SOCIETY,* 

DELIVERED    AT    CLAREMONT  CHAPEL, 

PENTONVILLE. 

Is  there  no  balm  in  Gllead  ?  is  there  no  physician  there  ?  why  then 
is  not  the  health  of  the  daughter  of  my  people  recovered.  Jer- 
emiah viii.  22. 

Painful  indeed  is  the  situation  of  the  patriot  who  is 
condemned  to  watch  the  expiring  struggles  of  his 
country — to  see,  one  by  one,  the  symptoms  of  its  po- 
litical life  disappear,  till  at  length  it  lies  prostrate  in 
corruption,  an  easy  prey  to  its  weakest  foe.  But  here 
is  more  than  a  patriot  called  to  mourn  over  the  ap- 
proaching desolation  of  his  land,  and  to  witness  the 
frustration  of  all  his  endeavours  to  save  it ;  here  is  a 
distinguised  saint  constrained  to  recognise,  in   all  the 

*  It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  detain  the  attention  of  the  reader  from  the 
perusal  of  the  following  Sermon,  for  a  moment,  to  describe  the  charac- 
ter of  the  society  before  whom  it  was  delivered.  It  has  existed  for  about 
twenty  years,  consists  almost  entirely  of  Congregational  and  Baptist 
Christians,  and  is  designed  to  disseminate  Christian  knowledge  among 
the  poor,  by  the  regular  circulation  of  tracts  on  the  loan  system,  the 
establishment  of  prayer  meetings,  the  visitation  of  the  sick,  the  encour- 
agement of  Sabbath  schools,  the  distribution  of  the  scriptures,  and  the 
preaching  of  the  gospel ;  its  agency  is  partly  of  a  clerical  and  partly  of 
a  lay  character  ;  some  of  these  agents  devote  their  whole  time  to  this 
service,  and  receive  a  moderate  remuneration,  but  the  far  larger  number 
of  them  find  their  present  reward  in  their  labors,  apd  hope  for  a  future 
recompense  in  the  approbation  of  the  adorable  Redeemer.  Abundant 
and  increasing  success  has  hitherto  been  vouchsafed  to  the  disinterested, 
unceasing,  and  prayerful  efforts  of  the  Institution.— Ed. 
2 


18  LONDON  : 

signs  of  impending  calamity,  the  signs  and  proofs  of 
his  country's  guilt.  He  could  not  forget  that  Judea 
had  for  ages  been  the  ark  of  religion,  where  the 
knowledge  of  God  had  been  preserved  when  lost  by 
all  the  world  besides.  He  thought  of  its  temple, 
where  prophets  had  uttered  the  burden  of  the  Lord — 
where  the  bleeding  sacrifice  had  daily  testified  of  hu- 
man guilt  and  Divine  forgiveness — where  successive 
generations  had  communed  with  God  from  off  the 
mercy-seat,  and  multitudes  had  found  the  gate  of 
heaven.  But  these  recollections,  pleasing  in  them- 
selves, were  embittered  by  the  remembrance  of  the 
guilt  which  they  recalled,  ages  of  accumulated  guilt; 
for,  which  of  their  prophets  had  they  not  persecuted, 
and  where  was  the  idol-god  which  they  had  not  at- 
tempted to  set  up  ? 

And  here  is  not  only  the  patriot  lamenting  the  dan- 
gers of  his  country,  and  the  saint  bewailing  its  guilt ; 
here  is  also  the  prophet  called  to  gaze  on  the  scene  of 
its  coming  destruction  as  if  it  were  actually  present. 
He  sees  the  Chaldean  foe  approach,  hears  the  tramp 
of  their  myriads,  beholds  Jerusalem  beleagured,  bleed- 
ing, lost — her  temple  in  ruins,  her  dwellings  of  holi- 
ness all  laid  waste,  while  the  piercing  shriek  of  her 
expiring  lament,  mingling  with  the  thunder  of  Almighty 
wrath,  proclaims  that  her  doom  is  sealed,  and  that  the 
hand  that  smites  her  is  from  heaven. 

But  that  which  completed  the  anguish  of  the  proph- 
et was,  that  his  nation  should  thus  perish  with  all  the 
means  of  recovery  at  hand.  True,  it  was  morally 
diseased,  fearfully  so ;  but  so  it  had  been  from  the  be- 
ginning, had  been  so  in  common  with  the  whole  world 
out  of  which  it  was  taken.  Indeed,  the  scriptural 
view  of  its  peculiar  economy  is  that  of  a  temporary 
remedy  applied  to  a  portion  of  diseased  humanity,  till 
the  grand  Gospel  specific  should  come  for  the  whole. 
Judea  was  the  moral  hospital  of  the  earth  ;  its  inhabi- 
tants were  God's  patients ;  its  ritual  was  his  divine 
prescriptions.  As  many  as  scripturally  availed  them- 
selves of  it,  acknowledged  its  efficacy,  and  found  a 


A  SERMON.  19 

cure.  Even  the  diseased  of  other  lands,  who  sincerely- 
sought  admission,  were  received,  and  welcomed,  and 
had  reason  to  rejoice  in  the  healing  process.  True, 
the  spiritual  malady  of  the  people  had  now  assumed 
the  most  aggravated  from — tlio  patient  was  apparently- 
approaching  dissolution  ;  but  well  the  prophet  knew 
that  the  Jewish  institute  retained  all  its  remedial  vir- 
tues unimpaired  ;  that,  if  rightly  employed,  it  could 
still  ameliorate  even  their  condition  ;  that,  confidently 
as  they  reliod  on  their  far-famed  balm  of  Gilead  as  a 
specific  for  certain  bodily  ailments,  still  more  cOnfi- 
deiitly  might  they  rely  on  the  heavenly  efficacy  of  this 
moral  balm  to  restore  them  to  political  soundness  and 
religious  health ;  and  knowing  this,  yet  seeing  them 
perish  within  reach  of  the  remedy,  he  uttered  the  excla- 
mation, in  w^hich  all  his  soul  came  forth,  "  Is  there  no 
balm  in  Gilead  ?  is  there  no  physician  there  ?  why 
then  is  not  the  health  of  the  daughter  of  my  people 
recovered  P'" 

This  is  the  patriotism  of  true  religion.  How  differ- 
ent from  that  plausible  modification  of  selfishness 
which  often  assumes  the  name  !  While  that  occupies 
itself  chiefly  in  forging  fetters  for  other  lands,  this  is 
principally  intent  on  promoting  the  moral  vigour  and 
freedom  of  its  own.  That  sees  no  cause  for  alarm  ex- 
cept in  a  threatened  invasion,  a  civil  war,  or  some 
temporal  form  of  national  distress  ;  in  the  absence  of 
all  these,  this  distinctly  sees  in  the  permitted  existence 
and  the  silent  increase  of  moral  evils,  the  gathering  of 
a  foe  more  to  be  dreaded  than  any  army  which  earth 
could  muster.  As  long  as  the  laws  of  the  land  are 
generally  obeyed,  that  congratulates  itself  on  the 
soundness  of  the  nation's  health :  but  if,  notwithstand- 
ing this  plausible  sign,  political  expediency  be  allow- 
ed to  carry  it  over  truth  and  right — if  the  two  ex- 
tremes of  society,  the.  highest  and  the  lowest,  unite  in 
the  desecration  of  the  Sabbath  and  the  disregard  of  reli- 
gion— if  the  great  bulk  of  the  people  are  left  unin- 
structed  in  the  laws  of  the  Divine  government,  this 
beholds  in  such  a  state  of  things  the  certain  symptoms 


20  LONDON  : 

of  a  deep-seated  disease,  corroding  the  vitals  of  the 
political  body,  and  threatening  its  dissolution.  That 
relies  for  security  and  prosperity  chiefly  on  its  martial 
forces  and  its  resources  of  wealth ;  but  iliis^  remem- 
bering how  many  a  nation  has  perished  while  in  the 
full  possession  of  such  expedients,  regards  a  nation's 
morality  as  its  greatest  wealth,  and  a  standing  army  of 
social  and  religious  virtues  as  its  strongest  bulwark. 
And  hence,  in  seeking  the  recovery  of  a  nation's 
health,  while  the  one  confines  its  attention  exclusively 
to  temporal  expedients,  and  expects  every  thing  from 
them,  the  other  still  sees  a  refuge  left  in  God  after.all 
these  have  failed,  and  instead  of  abandoning  itself  to 
despair,  takes  up  the  language  of  the  tenderest  expos- 
tulation, and  exclaims,  "  Is  there  no  balm  in  Gilead  ? 
is  there  no  physician  there  ?  why  then  is  not  the 
health  of  the  daughter  of  my  people  recovered?" 

In  reference  to  the  nation  primarily  addressed,  this 
language  implies  the  following  things :  That  there  is 
a  sense  in  which  it  was  to  be  viewed  as  one  collective 
being,  and  hence  it  is  spoken  of  as  a  person,  a  single 
individual ;  that  this  moral  agent  was  labouring  under 
an  alarming  moral  disease  ;  that  for  this  disease  there 
existed  an  adequate  remedy  ;  that  for  the  neglect  of 
this  remedy  no  justifiable  reason  could  be  assigned,  so 
that  the  conduct  of  the  nation  was  inexcusable,  and 
involved  the  highest  guilt ;  but  that  it  was  yet  the  duty 
of  such  as  saAV  and  felt  these  truths  to  seek  the  recovery 
of  that  patient  to  the  last,  pointing  her  to  the  remedy, 
and  remonstrating  with  her  on  the  guilt  of  her  contin- 
ued neglect. 

But  while  the  passage  implies  all  this,  its  point  and 
pathos  consist  chiefly  in  its  rem.onstrative  tone  on  the 
utter  inexcusableness  of  the  party  addressed  for  per- 
sisting in  the  neglect  of  God's  remedy.  As  if  the 
prophet  had  said.  That  you  require  a  remedy  of  some 
description  is  obvious  ;  you  know  that  the  foe  is  gather- 
ing on  your  borders  ;  the  very  fact  of  your  seeking  the 
alliance  of  Egypt  proclaims  your  sense  of  weakness 
and  danger,  while  the  numerous  vices  which  have  be- 


A  SERMON.  21 

come  national,  and  which  are  the  cause  of  the  impend- 
ing evil,  proclaim  "  that  the  whole  head  is  sick,  and 
and  whole  heart  faint."  But,  deplorable  as  our  condi- 
tion is,  it  is  not  hopeless.  Is  there  any  truth  in  our  sa- 
cred books  ?  Read  them,  and  you  will  find  that  never 
have  we  been  reduced  to  a  state  of  exigency  like  the 
present,  but  by  disobedience  to  God — never  relied  for 
deliverance  on  an  arm  of  flesh,  but  we  have  been  dis- 
appointed— never  repented  and  returned  to  God,  but 
we  have  been  pardoned  and  have  prospered.  Is  there 
any  meaning  in  that  temple  ?  It  is  the  residence  of  the 
Great  Physician.  Any  blessing  denoted  by  that  sacri- 
fice ?  It  represents  the  very  medium  of  our  forgive- 
ness, the  balm  which  shall  give  life  to  the  world. 
Why,  then,  while  you  admit  that  our  state  is  per- 
ilous— why,  when  the  great  and  only  remedy  is  before 
you — when  so  many  among  you  are  divinely  appointed 
to  recommend  and  enforce  it,  and  when  you  know  that 
to  neglect  your  office  is  to  let  the  nation  perish,  to  in- 
volve the  name  of  God  in  dishonour  before  the  heathen, 
to  incur  his  dreadful  displeasure,  to  destroy  immortal 
souls — why,  in  the  name  of  that  God  whose  prophet 
I  am,  "  why  is  not  the  health  of  the  daughter  of  my 
people  recovered  ?" 

Brethren,  this  remonstrance  did  not  lose  its  applica- 
bility with  the  occasion  on  which  it  was  at  first  uttered. 
It  continued  to  reverberate  age  after  age  in  the  ears  of 
the  Jewish  people,  till  it  reached  its  deepest  pathos  in 
the  weeping  lamentation  of  Jesus  over  Jerusalem  ; 
and  till  the  impassioned  desire  of  Paul  to  be  made  an 
anathema  for  their  salvation,  proclaimed  that  the  sun 
of  their  dispensation  had  set  in  a  long  dark  night.  In 
the  Christian  Church  it  has  gone  on  gathering  emphasis 
and  strength  with  the  growing  and  guilty  apathy  of  each 
successive  age,  till  in  our  own  times  it  has  acquired 
a  startling  power,  which  has  awakened  numbers  to  a 
sense  of  their  sinful  neglect  of  the  multitudes  perish- 
ing around  them,  and  which,  by  the  Spirt  of  God  still 
accompanying  it,  shall  soon  arouse  the  entire  Church. 
It  is  addressed,  indeed,  to  the  people  generally ;  but  to 


22  LONDON  : 

those  whose  office  it  is,  instrumentally,  to  instruct  and 
save  them  especially.  Such  is  the  duty  of  every  Chris- 
tian, and  of  every  Christian  Church.  Let  them  pro- 
ceed to  their  respective  posts  ;  and,  if  there  their  mes- 
sage of  salvation  meets  with  neglect,  they  may  re- 
monstrate with  the  people  in  the  spirit  of  the  text. 
But  till  they  themselves  are  thus  alive  to  their  duty, 
the  prophet  may  be  regarded  as  remonstrating  with 
them.  Oh,  with  what  startling  effect  might  he  bring 
down  the  expostulation  upon  us — upon  the  Christians 
of  this  country — the  Churches  of  this  city  !  '''  You 
admit,"  as  if  he  should  say,  "  that  your  lot  is  cast  in 
the  midst  of  multitudes  perishing  in  their  guilt — in 
your  prayers  to  God  you  acknowledge  it — in  your 
conversations  with  each  other  you  deplore  it.  You 
admit  that  for  this  disease  in  its  most  virulent  form 
there  is  an  infallible  cure — that  you  yourselves  are 
monuments  of  its  efficacy.  You  admit  that  you  hold 
this  remedy  from  the  great  Physician  expressly  to 
administer  it  to  the  dying  around  you — and  you  admit 
that  while  such  administration  could  not  fail  to  be  at- 
tended with  the  most  salutary  effects,  the  withhold- 
ment  of  it  must  as  certainly  be  followed  by  the  most 
fatal  consequences — and  believing  all  this,  meeting 
together  as  you  do  from  time  to  time  avowedly  on  the 
ground  of  this  belief — why,  in  the  name  of  the  Great 
Healer  of  immortal  souls,  why  is  not  the  health  of  the 
daughter  of  your  people  recovered  ?" 

•I.  Now  to  such  a  remonstrance  what  reply  could 
be  given  ?  For,  first,  on  your  own  admission,  it  could 
not  be  pleaded  that  the  moral  disease  which  pervades 
the  hundreds  of  thousands  around  you  is  not  very  ap- 
parent^  or,  though  apparent,  not  very  alarming^  in  its 
nature  and  consequences.  You  have  read  of  the 
dreadful  pestilence  which  in  1665  swept  off  more  than 
a  hundred  thousand  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  city. 
You  have  read  of  the  appalling  aspect  of  those  dwell- 
ings which  contained  infected  inmates — of  the  large 
red  cross  painted  on  their  doors,  together  with  the 
words,  "  Lord,  have  mercy  upon  us  !" — there  to  con- 


A    SERMON.  23 

tinue  till  the  lawful  opening  of  such  houses.  You  re- 
member that  examiners,  searchers,  surgeons,  and  bury- 
ers,  were  appointed  in  every  district — that  a  cart  went 
its  rounds  every  night  and  morning  to  receive  the  dead 
— that  the  driver,  sounding  his  knell  at  the  door  of  each 
infected  dwelling,  exclaimed,  "  Bring  forth  your  dead" 
— that  the  dead,  brought  forth  and  cast  into  the  cart, 
were  then  conveyed  to  pits  of  immense  size  and  depth, 
where  all  lay  shroudless  and  mingled  together.  You 
remember,  that  though  at  first  the  shrieks  of  women 
and  children  resounding  from  the  abodes  of  the  dying 
and  the  dead  were  so  frequent  as  to  appal  the  stoutest 
heart ;  yet,  that,  subsequently,  when  death  had  become 
familiar  to  their  eyes,  and  despair  had  hardened  their 
hearts,  they  felt  little  concern  for  the  loss  of  friends, 
and  often  left  them  to  perish  alone — that  though  at  the 
beginning  of  the  pestilence  the  churches  whre  crowd- 
ed with  alarmed  suppliants,  latterly,  they  were  com- 
paratively deserted — that  multitudes,  resorting  to  tav- 
erns and  places  of  infamy,  endeavoured  to  conquer 
their  terrors  by  debauchery  and  drunkenness ;  while 
their  riotous  outcries  and  songs  mingled  fearfully  with 
the  sounds  of  lamentation  and  woe.  The  whole  na- 
tion wept  for  the  miseries  of  her  metropolis. 

Brethren,  this  is  still  "  the  city  of  the  plague."  As 
then,  you  will  find  its  examiners  and  searchers,  its 
surgeons  and  buryers,  in  its  courts  of  law,  its  mag- 
istracy, and  its  army  of  police.  As  then,  you  will  find 
its  pits  and  receptacles  for  the  dead,  in  your  crowded 
jails  and  places  of  punishment.  As  then,  you  will  find 
that  while  many  of  its  churches  and  chapels  are  but 
thinly  attended,  resorts  of  an  opposite  character  are 
thronged.  In  the  pestilential  air  of  your  prisons, 
where  the  virtue  which  was  only  tainted  almost  inva- 
riably expires — in  the  impure  atmosphere  of  your 
larger  theatres,  whose  attendant  licentiousness  is  so 
well  known,  and  whose  direct^  stipulated  profits  from 
that  licentiousness  are  so  considerable,  that  one  of  them 
lately  desisting  from  the  infamous  traffic,  was  praised 
as  all  but  a  martyr  to  morality — in  the  ruinous  effects 


24  LONDON : 

of  yonr  penny  theatres,  those  "  infant  schools"  of 
vice,  where  so  many  thousand  children  learn  to  lisp  in 
blasphemy  and  to  mimic  licentiousness — in  the  de- 
monising  influence  of  your  "  Hells,"  where  the  beings 
who  enter  in  the  semblance  of  men  return  with  the 
impress  of  fiends — in  the  drunken  delirium  of  your 
gin  palaces,  so  rapidly  multiplied  of  late  to  receive 
the  swarming  throngs  of  the  diseased — in  all  these  you 
find,  as  then,  convincing  proofs  not  only  that  a  plague 
is  among  you,  but  that  it  has  spread  so  widely  and 
continued  so  long,  that  thousands  have  reached  that 
fearful  stage  in  which  their  only  concern  is  to  vanquish 
their  terrors,  and  forget  themselves. 

But,  oh,  were  the  city  to  put  on  at  this  moment  an 
aspect  answering  to  its  moral  condition — were  the 
plague  of  sin  to  disclose  itself  by  signs  as  fatal  as 
those  of  that  physical  plague,  the  most  dismal  scenes 
of  that  day  would  be  gladness  itself  compared  with 
the  spectacle  of  woe  which  would  forthwith  appear ! 
Would  not  some  present  expire  before  they  left  this 
house  of  prayer  ?  When  we  went  forth  by  and  by, 
could  we  expect  to  hear  any  other  sounds  than  those 
of  lamentation  and  woe  ?  Would  it  not  be  a  night 
more  to  be  remembered  than  that  in  which  the  first- 
born of  Egypt  were  slain  ?  and,  when  the  morrow 
dawned,  where  could  we  find  a  street,  many  of  whose 
doors  did  not  bear  the  red  cross  of  death  ?  Where 
could  we  direct  our  steps  without  hearing  the  appal- 
ling cry,  "  Bring  forth  your  dead  ?" — without  finding 
whole  ranges  of  buildings,  now  the  abodes  of  the  living, 
suddenly  changed  into  the  sepulchres  of  the  dead  ? — 
and  the  numerous  vehicles,  now  crowding  your  great 
thoroughfares,  all  put  in  requisition  as  the  vehicles 
of  mourning  and  death  ?  Oh,  how  many  more  than 
a  hundred  thousand  would  be  swept  away  ;  and  what 
must  be  the  lamentation  equal  to  so  vast  a  spectacle 
of  woe  ? 

Brethren,  this  calamity,  in  its  suhstance^  is  not  im- 
aginary, is  not  distant.  The  plague  is  here — is  upon 
us  !     This  is  its  metropolis — and  here  it  reigns — reigns 


A    SERMON.  25 

unto  death  !  Those  fearful  visitations  which  men  call 
plagues,  and  all  those  other  diseases  which  sweep  off 
generation  after  generation,  are  only  the  servants  of 
that  greater  plague  of  which  we  speak — they  merely 
do  its  bidding  on  the  body,  but  this  strikes  down  and 
destroys  the  immortal  soul.  It  walketh  in  darkness, 
and  wasteth  at  noonday.  Within  a  time,  comparative- 
ly short,  a  thousand  have  fallen  at  your  side,  and  ten 
thousand  at  your  right-hand — fallen  where  it  is  fearful 
to  follow  them  even  in  thought !  And  other  thousands 
have  the  plague-spot  on  them — must  they  fall  too  ?  Is 
there  nothing  by  which  the  plague  may  be  stayed  ? 
Why  then  is  their  spiritual  health  not  recovered  ? 

II.  Secondly,  it  cannot  be  alleged,  in  excuse,  that 
there  are  any  insuperable  obstacles  connected  with  the 
remedy.  What  obstacles  can  be  imagined  }  a  want  of 
freeness  ?  it  is  offered  without  money  and  without 
price.  A  want  of  suitableness  ?  it  is  the  minutely 
adapted  provision  of  infinite  wisdom — it  leaves  no 
part  of  our  nature  unhealed  ;  following  the  moral  dis- 
ease through  every  vein  it  has  envenomed,  it  produces 
a  new  creature  in  Christ  Jesus.  A  want  of  universal- 
ity ?  it  comes  addressed  to  "  every  creature" — to 
"  Whosoever  will" — to  the  entire  race.  A  want  of 
efficacy  ?  it  is  the  power  of  God — "  the  power  of 
God  unto  salvation." 

The  prophet  did  not  doubt  even  the  heahng  suffi- 
ciency of  the  Mosaic  dispensation.  He  took  it  for 
granted,  that  as  long  as  that  heavenly  balm  continued, 
the  nation  had  only  scripturally  to  employ  it,  in  order 
to  rejoice  in  its  sanative  power.  What  shall  we  say 
then  to  the  superior  efficacy  of  the  Gospel  dispensa- 
tion ?  It  retains  all  that  was  permanent  in  doctrine 
and  morality  under  the  former  economy — it  has  taken 
up  and  appropriated  to  itself  every  thing  belonging 
to  that  departed  church,  which  was  essentially  good — 
and  has  given  it  additional  value  by  bringing  it  into  the 
presence  of  the  Cross.  For  its  earthly  temple,  the 
Gospel  has  given  us  the  true  tabernacle  which  the 
Lord  pitched,  and  not  man — for  its  mere  animal  sacri- 


26  LONDON  : 

fices,  the  Lamb  of  God  which  taketh  away  the  sin  of 
the  world — and  for  its  dying  priesthood,  an  Advocate 
who  ever  liveth  to  make  intercession  for  us.  It  was 
the  conviction  of  this  immeasurable  superiority  which 
inspired  the  Apostle  from  the  very  moment  he  became 
acquainted  with  it,  with  his  lofty  confidence  in  its  suc- 
cess. Even  before  its  excellence  had  been  extensive- 
ly put  to  the  proof — from  the  very  beginning — so  satis- 
fied was  he  of  its  all-restoring  efficacy,  that  nothing 
would  evidently  have  delighted  him  more  than  the 
possibility  of  collecting  the  world  together,  and  of  try- 
ing it  on  all  the  race  at  (^nce  ;  but  that  being  impossi- 
ble, he  appeared  impatent  to  discover  the  spot  where 
the  disease  of  sin  was  most  active  and  virulent,  in 
order  that  there  he  might  make  triumphant  proof  of 
the  Gospel  remedy.  And  where  was  that  spot  likely 
to  be  found,  but  in  a  city,  and  that  city  the  metropolis 
of  the  world  ?  "  Well,"  said  he,  "  as  much  as  in  me 
is,  I  am  ready  tO  preach  the  Gospel  to  you  that  are  at 
Rome  also.  For  I  am  not  ashamed  of  the  Gospel  of 
Christ,  for  it  is  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation  to 
every  one  that  believeth."  "  What  means,"  as  if  he  had 
said,  "  its  glorious  gift  of  Christ }  but  that  it  has 
power  to  melt  all  hearts — compassion  to  embrace  all 
mankind  }  What  means  the  Cross,  but  that  its  blood 
cleanseth  from  all  sin  ?  What  means  its  accompany- 
ing Spirit,  but  that  it  shall  convince  the  world  of  sin  } 
What  mean  its  promises  of  success,  but  that  every 
land  shall  resound  with  its  triumphs,  and  every  shore 
be  adorned  with  the  living  monuments  of  its  saving 
power  ?  And  what  means  my  own  conversion — I, 
who  was  before  a  blasphemer,  and  a  persecutor,  and 
injurious — who  was  "  the  chief  of  sinners" — what,  but 
that  in  me  Jesus  Christ  would  show  forth  all  long-suf- 
fering— would  demonstrate  to  the  world  that  he  is  able 
to  save  unto  the  uttermost,  and  will  perpetuate  the  tri- 
umphs of  his  grace,  till  the  world  shall  be  saved  ?" 

But,  if  such  was  the  confidence  of  the  apostle  in  the 
efficacy  of  the  Gospel,  what  should  be  ours,  now  that 
it  comes  down  to  us  sealed  and  attested  by  the  expe- 


A  SERMON,  S7 

rience  of  ages  and  generations  ?  Restricted  as  it  has 
been  in  its  operations  by  the  selfishness  of  its  profess- 
ed friends — corrupted  as  it  has  been  by  the  ignorant 
and  the  worldly — maligned  and  resisted  as  it  has 
been  by  its  enemies,  who  has  yet  ever  received  it 
without  finding  salvation  ?  or  where  has  it  ever  been 
carried  without  leaving  behind  it  a  blessing  ?  What 
tears  has  it  wiped  away — what  bleeding  hearts  has  it 
staunched  and  healed — what  injuries  and  evils  has  it 
arrested  and  prevented — what  hopes  has  it  kindled — 
what  joy  diffused  !  Viewed  on  the  large  and  compre- 
hensive scale  of  ages,  what  happy  families  has  it  cre- 
ated— what  examples  of  excellence  has  it  given  to  so- 
ciety— what  equity  to  law — what  activity  and  ampli- 
tude to  benevolence — what  blessings  has  it  showered 
on  earth — what  a  multitude  has  it  glorified  in  heaven ! 
And  is  it  possible  that  this  remedy  for  the  world's 
maladies  is  still  in  existence  ?  It  is  at  this  moment  in 
our  possession.  And  is  its  original  efficacy  unimpair- 
ed ?  Assemble  the  thousands  around  you  and  try. 
Oh,  were  it  possible  for  you  not  merely  to  collect 
them^  but  to  collect  and  concentrate  the  moral  diseases 
of  the  whole  in  the  person  of  one  man,  could  you 
doubt  the  issue  when  you  reflect  that  the  balm  is  the 
precious  distilment  of  the  heart  of  infinite  love  ? 
And  is  it  possible  that,  with  this  balm  intrusted  to  our 
administration,  there  are  souls  around  us  to  whom  we 
have  never  spoken  of  its  virtues,  and  on  whom  we 
have  never  pressed  its  acceptance  ?  Brethren,  had 
there  lived  a  man  in  this  metropolis  during  the  reign 
of  that  dreadful  plague  of  which  we  have  spoken, 
who  knew  of  some  simple  remedy,  but  who  yet  could 
listen  to  the  continued  wailings  of  the  neighbourhood 
around  him,  and  see  his  fellow-citizens  swept  off  by 
thousands  into  the  grave,  without  showing  any  con- 
cern to  impart  it,  should  we  not  have  spoken  of  him 
to-night  as  a  monster  ?  and  would  he  not  have  gone 
down  to  the  latest  posterity  as  a  reproach  to  the  spe- 
cies? And  yet  if  sin  be  that  plague  in  a  form  as 
\nuch  more  dreadful  as  the  immortal  spirit  is  more 


28  LONDON  : 

precious,  and  capable  of  a  destruction  more  terrible, 
than  the  body — and  if  the  Gospel  be  that  simple,  sove- 
reign remedy ;  and  if  we,  holding  it  in  our  posses- 
sion, can  yet  admit  that  the  pestilence  is  raging  around 
us  without  doing  our  utmost  to  arrest  it,  can  our  guilt 
be  less  than  his  ?  must  it  not  be  proportionally  great- 
er ?  Then  who  shall  attempt  to  compute  its  amount  ? 
Or  what  inquiry  can  be  more  appropriate  and  urgent 
than  this,  "  Why  is  not  the  health  of  the  daughter  of 
your  people  recovered  ?" 

III.  It  cannot  be  replied  in  palliation,  thirdly,  that 
we  are  under  no  obligation  to  attempt  this  recovery. 
The  construction  of  the  text  implies  that  the  duty  is  even 
prior  to  any  command  and  independent  of  it,  being 
founded  in  the  very  nature  of  things.  The  inquiry, 
"  Is  there  not  balm  in  Gilead,  and  a  physician  there  ?" 
implies,  that  if  there  be,  .our  bare  knowledge  of  the 
fact,  without  waiting  for  any  express  authority,  carries 
with  it  an  obligation  to  make  it  known,  the  neglect  of 
which  involves  us  in  tremendous  guilt. 

This  obligation  arises  partly  out  of  our  community 
of  nature  and  interests — a  relationship  by  which  the 
entire  race,  instead  of  consisting  of  a  multitude  of 
detached  and  isolated  individuals,  is  formed  into  a 
family  so  closely  united  by  reciprocal  ties,  that  the 
well-being  of  each  is  connected  with  the  good  of  all. 
And  hence,  partly,  our  obligation  to  preach  the  Gospel 
to  every  creature  ;  for  to  every  creature  are  we  re- 
lated. 

But  besides  this  obligation  arising  out  of  the  com- 
mon rights  and  mutual  claims  of  humanity,  God  is 
pleased,  in  his  moral  government  of  the  world,  to  deal 
with  the  several  nations,  cities,  and  civil  societies  into 
which  it  is  distributed  as  so  many  distinct  moral  ' 
agents  ;  and  hence,  each  one  sustains  relations  and 
responsibilities  to  the  members  of  its  own  body,  addi- 
tional to  those  which  it  holds  in  common  with  all  the 
rest,  and  peculiar  to  itself.  The  subjects  of  the  same 
government,  for  instance,  or  the  inhabitants  of  the 
same  city  are  viewed,  not  merely  as  united  in  time* 


A  SERMON.  29 

and  place,  but  as  forming  one  collective  being.  This, 
indeed,  is  suggested — we  do  not  say  intentionally  im- 
plied— by  the  personification  in  the  text,  in  which  a 
whole  people  is  spoken  of  as  one  person — for,  though 
the  language  is  figurative,  the  idea  is  founded  in  reali- 
ty. The  Almighty  appears  to  deal  with  such  a  collec- 
tive agent,  as  we  may  suppose  he  would  deal  with  an 
accountable  being  who  should  have  no  existence  here- 
after— Divine  retribution  is  dispensed  to  it  in  this  life. 
As  the  efiects  of  sins  committed  at  one  period  of  life 
are  often  felt  at  a  subsequent  period,  so  the  depraved 
condition  of  a  civil  society  in  one  age  of  its  existence 
— for  its  whole  duration  is  but  one  continued  life — is 
visited  with  the  evil  consequences  in  a  later  genera- 
tion. And  as  it  is  impossible  that  one  member  of  the 
human  body  should  suffer  without  all  the  mem- 
bers suffering  with  it,  so  is  it  that  one  part  of  a  cor- 
porate society  should  be  morally  diseased  without  all 
the  other  parts  sharing  in  the  attendant  evils.  By  a 
regard,  therefore,  to  your  own  welfare — to  the  welfare 
of  those  who  are  the  dearest  to  you — parts  of  your- 
selves— to  the  welfare  of  your  children's  children  to 
the  latest  posterity — the  obligation  is  laid  on  you  to 
minister  to  the  infected  and  infectious  society  in  which 
you  are  living,  the  appointed  means  of  purification 
and  health.  .As  you  could  not  hear  that  a  contagious 
disease  had  sprung  up  in  your  neighbourhood  without 
feeling  that  all  your  family  were  endangered,  look  on 
the  moral  contagion  around  you  as  involving  the  entire 
community  of  which  you  are  a  member  in  special 
danger,  and  exposing  you  at  least  to  temporal  suffering. 
To  complete  the  obligation,  however,  the  will  of 
Christ  has  made  it  authoritative  and  divine.  Do  you 
ask  where  and  how  he  has  expressed  that  will  ?  Not 
merely  by  commands  to  be  found  in  almost  every 
page  of  his  Gospel,  and  which  require  us  to  love  our 
neighbour  as  ourselves.  Not  merely  by  the  authority 
of  his  own  example  in  weeping  over  the  metropolis 
of  his  own  land,  and  labouring  with  untiring  benevo- 
lence for  its  recovery.     But  also  by  the  diffusive  na- 


30  LONDON  : 

ture  of  the  Divine  remedy  itself,  by  which  it  no  sooner 
takes  effect  on  an  individual,  than  he   feels  himself 
impelled  to  proclaim  its  virtues  to  others,  and  to  en- 
force its  acceptance.     And  still  more,  if  possible,  by 
the  Divine  constitution  of  the  Christian  Church.     Hav- 
ing composed  it  of  such  as  have    themselves    made 
proof  of  the    healing    remedy,    and    furnished    them 
with  the  means  of  complete  recovery  and  eternal  life, 
he  requires  them  to  act  as  a  body  organised  and  ap- 
pointed for  the  recovery  of  others.     Every  church  in 
this  city  is  the  Divine  dispensary  of  the  neighbourhood 
in  which  it  stands — the  Gilead  of  the  district.     It  is 
planted  there,  not  merely  for  the  convenience  and  ad- 
vantage of  its  own  members,  but,  also,  that  all  the 
inhabitants  around  may  be  brought  under  cure.     In 
prosecution  of  this  high  object,  it  is  not  to  wait  for  ap- 
plications from  without.     In  imitation  of  Christ,  it  is 
to  seek  that  it  may  save  that  which  was  lost.     In  imi- 
tation of  his  Apostles,  its  members  are  to  go    from 
house  to  house,  making  manifest  the  savour  of  Christ 
— diffusing  the  fragrant  odour  of  the  healing  balm — in 
every  place.     All  the  means  of  spiritual  recovery  are 
in  their  possession,  and  from  the  first  moment  of  their 
existence  as  a  Church,  they  are  required  to  employ 
them.     All  the  population  of  that  district  are  placed 
under  their  special  ministrations ;  and  jls  long  as    a 
single  soul  remains  in  ignorance  of  Christ,  they  are 
to  ply  those  ministrations  to  the  utmost,    or   to    find 
themselves  subjected  to  the   charge    implied    in    the 
startling  interrogation,  "  Why  is  not  the  health  of  that 
soul  recovered  ?" 

IV.  It  cannot  be  pleaded  in  mitigation  of  this 
charge,  that,  although  convinced  of  our  obligation  to 
promote  the  spiritual  health  of  our  community,  we 
are  distracted  hy  the  conflicting  claims  of  various 
remedies.  The  text  implies  that  there  is  but  one 
remedy,  and  that  there  cannot  be  another — that  the 
obligation  to  employ  any  remedy,  and  to  employ  this, 
is  identical. 

We  are  aware,  indeed,  that,  in  the  present  day,  re- 


A    SERMON.  31 

ligion  has  numerous  competitors  for  the  honour  of  im- 
proving mankind ;  that  civilization  and  law,  political 
economy,  and  secular  instruction,  forgetting  their  total 
failure  as  a  remedy  for  human  misery  during  the  thou- 
sands of  years  in  which  they  had  the  world  to  them- 
selves ;  forgetting,  that  however  useful  they  may  be 
in  their  several  subordinate  departments,  their  utility 
can  never  extend  beyond  those  limits,  but  by  their  be- 
coming the  handmaids  of  that  Divine  religion  whose 
sphere  is  the  universe  and  eternity ;  and  forgetting 
that  the  moral  progression  of  society  of  late,  is  owing, 
not  to  their  influence,  but  to  the  operation  of  that  re- 
ligion ;  forgetting  these  things,  they  flatter  themselves, 
that  could  they  but  be  left  to  work  alone,  they  should 
need  no  higher  aid  in  order  to  renovate  society,  and 
make  the  world  happy.  But  if  the  malady  of  sin  has 
fallen  upon  the  moral  and  immortal  part  of  our  nature, 
they  possess  not  one  quality  of  a  remedy.  If  to  leave 
the  heart  untouched,  is  to  leave  the  man  unhealed, 
they  can  have  no  pretension  whatever  to  be  regarded 
as  a  balm.  At  best  they  can  but  heal  the  hurt  of  the 
daughter  of  a  people  slightly,  saying.  Peace,  peace, 
when  there  is  no  peace.  At  best  they  are  but  pallia- 
tives ;  but,  like  most  other  mere  palliatives,  they  sub- 
sequently aggravate  the  disorder  they  pretended  to 
cure. 

Science,  for  instance,  taken  by  itself,  has  no  tendency 
whatever  to  moral  improvement.  Such  improvement 
can  only  result  through  the  medium  of  conscience  ;  by 
the  agency  of  something  which  shall  appeal  to  our 
hopes  and  fears ;  by  a  moral  influence.  But  what 
connexion  is  there  between  the  mechanical  science 
and  morality  }  How  can  a  vicious  heart  be  cured  by 
lectures  on  geology .?  If  no  one  expects  to  learn 
astronomy  by  studying  botany — if  no  one  expects  to 
learn  it  even  by  studying  religion — why  should  any 
one  expect  to  learn  religion,  or  to  be  able  to  dispense 
with  religion,  by  studying  science  ?  The  instruction 
of  a  community  in  worldly  science  can,  at  best,  but 
multiply  its  mental  and  social  resources^  and  thus  cor- 


32  LONDON  : 

rect  its  taste  for  some  of  the  grosser  forms  of  sensual- 
ity. But  ask  ancient  Greece  and  Rome,  and  modern 
France,  the  direction  in  which  it  tends,  unguided  by 
revelation,  and  you  will  find  that  it  leads  through  athe- 
ism to  destruction.  However  simple  the  early  char- 
acter of  a  people  may  be  while  struggling  to  establish 
their  political  existence,  survey  the  whole  compass  of 
history,  and  say,  in  what  instance  has  a  progress  in 
arts,  and  science,  and  commerce,  and  attendant  wealth, 
unaccompanied  by  religion,  failed  to  increase  the 
luxury  and  licentiousness,  the  arrogance  and  selfish- 
ness of  a  people,  and  thus  to  seal  their  doom  ?  Inves- 
tigate the  claims  of  civilization,  and  you  will  find  that 
it  is  but  just  beginning  to  ascertain  them  itself.  The 
most  distinguished  writer  on  civilization  of  the  present 
day*  commences  with  the  inquiry,  which  lies  at  the 
very  basis  of  the  subject  before  us,  "Is  society  formed 
for  the  individual,  or  the  individual  for  society  ?"  and 
pronounces  that  one  of  the  greatest  philosopherst  has 
thus  resolved  the  question  :  "  Human  societies  are 
born,  and  live,  and  die  upon  the  earth ;  there  they 
accomplish  their  destinies.  But  they  contain  not  the 
whole  man.  After  his  engagement  to  society,  there 
still  remains  in  him  the  more  noble  part  of  his  nature. 
We  have  each  a  separate  and  distinct  existence,  are 
endowed  with  immortality,  and  have  a  destiny  higher 
than  that  of  states."  Yes,  civilization  and  government 
must  disclaim  the  power  of  reaching  the  soul.  All 
they  can  accomplish,  at  best,  is  to  restrain  the  eruption 
of  its  disease  when  it  endangers  the  social  health,  and 
to  develope  other  counteracting  qualities  likely  to  main- 
tain that  restraint.  This  is  their  hest.  History,  alas, 
finds  it  abundantly  easier  to  furnish  illustrations  of 
their  ivorst — to  show  us  that  human  government,  apart 
from  the  influence  of  religion,  aye,  and  in  defiance  of 
that  influence  too,  can  itself  cater  for  the  most  morbid 
appetites  of  a  people,  up  to  the  very  point  of  social 
danger — that  it  can  itself  legalise  immorality,  and  sell 

*  Guizot,  t  De  Royer  Collard. 


A   SERMON.  33 

the  Sabbath,  and  open  a  thousand  Hippodromes,  pro- 
vided the  people  will  be  content  with  destroying  them- 
selves, without  destroying  it — that  it  can  persist  in  bar- 
tering away  the  morals,  the  rationality,  the  very  bodily 
health  of  hundreds  of  thousands  of  its  subjects,  pro- 
vided the  sale  of  the  liquid  fire  that  inflicts  these  evils 
continues  to  swell  the  revenue. 

Well,  then,  may  we  appropriate  the  language  of 
the  context,  and  inquire,  "  Is  not  the  Lord  in  Zion  ?  is 
not  her  King  in  her  ?  Why  have  they  provoked  me  to 
anger  with  strange  vanities  ?"  To  think  of  making 
any  expedient  of  human  device  a  substitute  for  the 
Gospel,  is  the  highest  provocation  which  man  can  offer, 
or  God  receive.  Did  you  cousult  only  the  temporal 
welfare  of  the  community  in  which  you  dwell,  the 
speediest  and  most  effectual  method  of  promoting  even 
that^  would  be  to  give  them  the  Gospel.  It  moralizes 
every  society  which  it  entei-s.  Even  when  it  does 
not  convert  a  people,  it  arrests  the  progress  of  vice, 
denounces  oppression,  awakens  compassion  for  the 
wretched,  asserts  the  supremacy  of  law,  elevates  the 
public  standard,  and  thus  lays  a  foundation  for  civil 
improvement  and  social  happiness.  But  you  profess 
to  design  their  spiritual  welfare — and  for  this  the 
Gospel  is  the  only  means.  Here  there  can  be  no 
competition,  no  rival,  no  question.  Compared  with 
its  wisdom,  every  other  system  is  foolishness,  for 
it  is  the  wisdom  of  God.  Compared  with  its 
power  to  sway  the  heart,  all  other  strength  is  weak- 
ness, for  it  is  the  power  of  God.  Its  light  alone  can 
'pierce  the  darkness  of  the  soul.  Its  influence  alone 
can  break  the  chains  of  sin,  and  turn  the  heart,  the 
house,  the  city,  once  devoted  to  Satan,  into  a  habitation, 
for  God  through  the  Spirit.  But  the  Gospel  can  do 
this.  It  taught  chastity  at  Corinth — humility  at  Athens 
— humanity  and  holiness  at  Rome — and  converted 
even  the  jail  at  Philippi  into  a  Christian  church.  And 
what  it  has  done  it  can  still  repefeit.  Its  Author  is  the 
appointed  Healer  of  a  diseased  and  a  dying  world :  only 
let  its  saving  health  be  diffused,  and,  like  a  heavenly 
3 


34  LONDON  : 

current  of  vital  air,  it  will  sweep  over  the  spiritual 
sickness  of  your  city,  imparting  life,  and  health,  and 
universal  happiness. 

V.  Fifthly,  It  cannot  be  pleaded,  that,  though  con- 
vinced that  the  Gospel  is  the  only  remedy  for  the  af- 
flicted community  in  which  we  dwell,  loe  are  at  pres- 
ent engrossed  hy  more  important  claims  at  a  distance. 
It  is  to  the  honour  of  Christians — or,  rather,  of  the 
God  whose  quickening  influence  has  graciously  aroused 
them  from  slumber — that  no  object  of  Christian  philan- 
thropy is  at  present  deemed  too  vast  to  be  attempted, 
no  enterprise  too  distant  to  be  approached.  With  an 
enlargement  of  design  worthy  of  their  Christian 
name,  they  are  free  to  avow  that  their  field  of  action 
is  the  world,  and  that  their  object  •  is  to  reclaim  that 
world  to  Christ.  Nor  would  we  utter  a  syllable  the 
tendency  of  which  should  be  to  contract  that  sphere 
of  labour  by  a  single  line,  nor  call  ofl*  their  attention 
from  any  part  of  it  for  a  single  moment,  except  for  the 
purpose  of  so  engaging  it  during  that  moment  as  to 
send  them  back  to  it  again,  with  increased  fitness  and 
greater  devotedness  than  ever.  No  :  every  Christian 
present  stands  related  to  the  whole  race.  The  cross 
vibrates  to  the  sounds  of  human  misery  in  every  part 
of  the  earth,  and  his  heart  is  to  thrill  in  sympathy  with 
it.  As  a  representative  of  Christ,  he  is  to  regard 
himself  as  the  centre  of  all  that  misery,  and  his  heart 
is  to  beat  with  the  godlike  desire  of  relieving  the 
whole.  But  in  yielding  to  that  impulse,  he  is  to  re- 
member that  there  is  an  order  in  which  his  benevolent 
eflbrts  are  to  be  made — an  order  of  nature^  by  which 
those  who  are  the  most  nearly  related  to  us  have  the 
first  and  strongest  claims  on  us — an  order  of  provi- 
dence^ by  which  we  are  enabled  to  administer  the 
means  of  salvation  to  those  who  are  placed  near  us  at 
less  expense,  and  in  greater  variety  and  abundance, 
than  we  can  to  those  who  are  more  remote  from  us 
— and  that  this  order  of  nature  and  providence  is  also 
the  order  of  Scripture^  since  the  apostles  themselves, 
"  beginning  at  Jerusalem,"  were  to  work  from  that 


A    SERBION.  35 

centre  outwards  to  the  ends  of  the  earth.  The  rela- 
tive duties  of  the  Christian,  then,  may  be  said  to  lie 
around  him  in  concentric  circles  ;  and  as  the  first  circle 
immediately  around  him  includes  those  most  nearly 
related  to  him,  nothing  will  excuse  him  for  neglecting 
that  inner  circle  for  an  outer,  however  much  larger 
that  outer  circle  may  be.  If  the  order  of  nature,  and 
providence,  and  scripture,  should  also  be  the  order  of 
the  final  judgment,  the  first  subject  of  inquiry  after 
his  own  personal  state,  will  relate  to  his  efibrts  for  the 
salvation  of  those  immediately  around  him.  The 
solemn  inquiry,  "  How  came  your  wife  or  child,  your 
servant  or  friend,  your  neighbour  or  fellow-citizen,  to 
perish  unwarned  and  uncared  for  by  you  ?"  cannot  be 
metby  a  plea  that  he  was  occupied  in  achieving  a  distant 
good.  He  must  not  neglect  the  Christian  welfare  of 
his  own  household,  then,  and  of  his  immediate  con- 
nexions, no,  not  for  the  sublime  occupation  of  evan- 
gelising a  continent.  And  as  with  the  individual  Chris-' 
tian,  so  with  a  particular  church.  The  district  which 
lies  immediately  around  it  is  to  engage  its  attention 
first ;  the  manner  in  which  it  discharged  its  obligations 
to  that  district  will,  we  may  suppose,  in  the  day  of 
final  account,  come  under  judicial  investigation  first ; 
nor  would  the  plea  that  it  was  engrossed  in  achieving 
some  enterprise  of  mercy  at  a  distance,  however  vast 
and  magnificent,  palliate  its  guilty  neglect  of  those 
prior  obligations. 

But  that  which  we  wish  here  to  impress  is,  that  not 
only  need  not  the  class  of  home  duties  be  neglected 
for  those  at  a  distance,  but  that  they  are  to  be  dis- 
charged with  the  view  of  ultimately  augmenting  our 
resources  for  that  distance,  and  as  the  most  scriptural, 
efiectual,  and  speedy  method  of  benefiting  the  world 
at  large.  So  far  from  thinking  that  more  would  have 
been  done  for  home  had  less  been  done  for  abroad, 
we  firmly  believe  that  the  reverse  would  have  been 
the  fact.  So  far  from  supposing  that  if  any  portion  of 
Christian  activity  were  withdrawn  from  foreign  ob- 
jects, it  would  proportionally  increase  our  activity  at 


86  LONDON  : 

home,  we  should  earnestly  deprecate  it  as  the  first 
step  towards  arresting  the  entire  machinery  of  home 
benevolence.  So  far  from  thinking  that  too  much  is 
done  for  distant  objects,  we  urge  the  claims  of  home 
partly  that  we  may  be  able  to  do  more.  Yes,  the  duty 
of  a  Christian  church  is,  in  this  case,  coincident  with 
its  most  enlarged  desires.  For,  by  filling  the  sphere 
immediately  around  them  first  with  Christian  influence, 
its  members  are  multiplying  their  agencies  for  occu- 
pying the  next  circle,  and  for  thus  gradually  extending 
there  sphere,  and  diffusing  their  influence,  over  the 
whole  circumference. 

Brethren,  all  our  Christian  societies  are  related — and 
he  who  should  advocate  one  at  the  expense  of  another 
is,  in  truth,  inflicting  an  injury  on  them  all.  While 
we  urge  the  claims  of  the  metropolis,  then,  we  feel 
that  we  are  seeking  the  good  of  the  country  at  large ; 
and,  by  promoting  tliat^  we  confess  we  have  an  eye 
to  the  benefit  of  the  world.  While  London  is  allowed 
by  Providence  to  retain  the  prominent  station  which 
it  does  in  the  civil  and  political  arrangements  of  the 
world,  never  can  the  Christian  philanthropist  contem- 
plate its  moral  condition  but  with  deep  anxiety.  Owing 
to  its  political  connexions  at  home,  its  commercial 
relations  abroad,  and  the  vast  extent  of  that  empire, 
domestic  and  colonial,  of  which  it  is  the  capital,  it 
commands  a  range  of  influence  which  no  other  city 
— not  ancient  Rome  itself — has  ever  possessed.  For 
evil  or  for  good,  it  is  always  operating,  not  only  to  the 
utmost  bounds  of  the  civilized  world,  but  beyond, 
through  barbarous  climes,  to  the  very  ends  of  the 
earth.  If  its  prevailing  character  be  that  of  ungodli- 
ness, to  all  the  multitudes,  myriads,  millions  of  im- 
mortal beings  within  that  vast  circumference,  it  is  an 
ever-streaming  centre  of  moral  contamination  and 
eternal  death.  And  is  it  for  this  that  London  is  in- 
trusted with  the  mighty  talent  of  universal  influence  } 
Shall  a  city  which  might  be  the  Gilead  of  the  nations, 
dispensing  the  balm  of  life  through  all  its  thousand 
channels  of  communication,  propagate  instead  a  more 


A  SERMON.  31 

virulent  form  of  that  disease  which  it  was  meant  to 
heal  ?  Why  then  is  not  the  health  of  the  daughter 
of  its  people  recovered  ?  Why,  when  its  recovery 
would  instrumentally  be  the  health  of  the  world. 

VI.  Again.  It  cannot  be  replied,  that,  though  con- 
vinced of  the  surpassing  claims  of  the  metropolis,  and 
disposed  to  yield  to  them,  there  are  no  Christians  ivith 
lohom  to  co-operate — no  society  with  which  to  act. 
Here  is  a  society — the  Christian  Instruction  Society, 
for  which  we  plead — and  which  is  only  one  of  a  fami- 
ly of  kindred  institutions,  all  devoted  to  the  great  ob- 
jects before  us — inviting,  entreating  your  instant  and 
ardent  co-operation. 

The  class  of  persons  to  which  this  part  of  our  ap- 
peal is  applicable  consists  of  those  who,  though  en- 
rolled among  the  followers  of  Christ,  are  not  enrolled 
among  the  prayerful  and  active  benefactors  of  the 
multitudes  in  their  vicinity,  perishing  in  guilt.  And 
is  it  possible  that  any  such  should  still  be  found  in  con- 
nexion with  any  London  church  which  is  associated 
with  this  Society  ?  My  friends,  are  you  aware  of  the 
guilt  of  doing  nothing  ?  of  the  curse  denounced 
against  such  as  come  not  out  to  the  help  of  the  Lord 
- — of  the  fact  that  the  final  curse  is  to  be  prefaced  with 
the  declaration.  Inasmuch  as  ye  did  it  not — and  that, 
if  that  doom  be  yours,  it  will  be  aggravated  in  pro- 
portion to  the  facilities  which  such  a  society  has  afford- 
ed you  for  doing  good  ?  Can  you  be  aware  of  the  fa- 
cilities for  usefulness  which  it  does  afford  ? — that  it 
has  an  important  post  of  duty  for  every  one  disposed 
to  engage  in  its  service — or  that,  if  obstacles  absolute- 
ly prevent  you  from  taking  an  active  part  in  its  pro- 
ceedings, you  can  yet,  by  devoting  a  portion  of  your 
substance  to  its  support,  make  all  its  agents  your  rep- 
resentatives— and  may  thus  be  at  once  a  preacher  in 
the  tent,  a  missionary  at  the  prayer-meeting,  and  a 
visiter  at  the  house — and  that  by  your  earnest  inter- 
cession in  private,  you  can  draw  down  the  influence 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  upon  the  whole  ?  Are  you  really 
aware  of  the  extent  of  its  operations,  and  the  work  it 


38  LONDON  : 

is  doing  ?  that  in  the  nine  districts  into  which  its  wide 
field  of  labour  is  distributed,  it  numbers  eighty-seven 
associations  ;  employs  nearly  2,000  visiters  ;  supports 
fifteen  missionary  agents  ;  maintains  124  prayer-meet- 
ings ;  and  visits  upwards  of  50,000  families,  consist- 
ing of  about  250,000  individuals  ?  that  these  agencies 
have,  in  other  proportions,  been  at  work  for  several 
years  ?  that,  during  that  period,  'whether  occupied  in 
an  organised  and  regular  visitation  of  the  poor,  in  the 
circulation  of  religious  publications,  in  imparting,  the 
knowledge  of  Christ  by  cottage  lectures,  by  street  and 
field  preaching,  or  in  defending  the  Christian  faith, 
and  enforcing  its  duties  by  publicly  advertised  dis- 
coui-ses  from  the  pulpit — its  one  aim  has  been  to  diffuse 
the  saving  health  of  the  Gospel  among  the  ignorant 
and  the  guilty  ?  Are  you,  I  ask,  really  aware  of  this  ? 
and,  if  so,  is  it  possible  that  you  feel  no  desire  to  be- 
come a  vital  and  organic  part  of  this  great  agency  of 
Christian  benevolence  ?  Are  you  aware  of  the  good 
which,  by  the  Divine  blessing,  it  has  been  the  means 
of  doing  even  during  the  last  year  ?  of  the  3800  cases 
of  distress  it  relieved — the  nearly  3000  children  it  ob- 
tained for  day  and  Sunday  schools — to  say  nothing  of 
the  tracts  and  Bibles  it  distributed,  and  the  12,500 
meetings  which  it  held  for  the  worship  of  God  ?  and, 
more  than  all,  of  the  conversions  which  it  reports,  and 
of  which  one  of  its  associations  states,  "  We  have 
thirty  candidates  for  communion,  who  have  all  been 
brought  to  serious  reflection  through  the  instrumen- 
tality of  our  visiters  and  missionary  ?"  and  can  you 
hear  of  all  this  good  resulting  without  coveting  to 
share  it  by  your  own  co-operation,  and  aspiring  to  aug- 
ment it  by  your  own  endeavours  ?  Are  you  aware 
that  we  are  speaking  of  a  work  in  which  there  is  no 
neutrality  ?  that  if  you  belong  to  a  Christian  Church 
which  is  associated  with  this  society,  but  are  not  co- 
operating with  that  church,  you  are  in  truth  co-operat- 
ing with  the  world  against  it — that  if  you  are  not 
warming  the  working  members  of  that  church  by 
your  zeal,  you  are  chilling  them  by  your  apathy — that 


A   SERMON.  3^ 

there  is  no  alternative  between  your  being  a  useful 
wheel  in  this  Christian  machinery,  or  a  drag  on  its 
movements  ?  Are  you  aware  that  the  tendency  of 
your  indifference  is  to  defeat  the  very  ultimate  pur- 
pose of  a  Christian  Church  ?  to  convert  it  into  a  mo- 
nopoly of  the  balm  of  life,  instead  of  making  it  the 
Dispensary  of  that  blessing  ?  to  draw  down  on  it  the 
curses  of  the  world  as  a  monster  of  selfishness,  in- 
stead of  securing  for  it  the  thanks  of  mankind  as  the 
laborious  instrument  of  their  salvation  ?  And  can 
you  think  of  going  to  the  tribunal  above,  to  render  an 
account  of  your  stewardship,  without  feelings  of 
alarm  ?  If  even  the  most  devoted  and  self-sacrificing 
servant  of  God  cannot  contemplate  that  event  without 
acknowledging  his  unprofitableness  and  imploring  for- 
giveness, how  deep  the  consciousness  of  guilt  with 
which  you  should  be  inspired  !  Pray,  at  least,  that 
you  may  not  be  summoned  there  at  a  time  when  any 
of  your  active  fellow-members  may  be  there  to  con- 
front you — that  you  may  not  meet  together  in  contrast 
at  the  bar  of  God.  Pray,  at  least,  that  you  may  not 
ascend  thither  at  a  moment  when  any  of  the  multitude 
you  are  neglecting  shall  appear  there  also,  lest  the 
solemn  question,  "  Why  was  not  their  spiritual  health 
recovered  ?"  should  attract  all  eyes  to  you,  as  the 
shameful  and  guilty  cause. 

VII.  But  there  is  a  second  class  to  be  addressed — 
those  for  whose  benefit  this  Society  exists — and  of 
these  I  would  contemplate  especially  that  important 
though  sceptical  portion  for  whose  information  and 
conviction  courses  of  Lectures  on  the  Evidences  of 
Christianity  have  from  time  to  time  been  delivered  by 
the  ministers  of  this  Society.  I  should  not  have  singled 
out  such  from  the  rest  on  this  occasion,  were  it  not  for 
certain  well  written  but  anonymous  letters  which  I  have 
received,  professing  to  come  from  members  of  this 
class,  and  bearing  internal  evidence  of  such  an  origin 
— professing  besides  to  represent  the  opinions  of  the 
great  majority  of  this  class  concerning  this  society — 


40  LONDON : 

and  leaving  me  to  infer  that  some,  if  not  many  such, 
would  be  present  this  evening. 

The  friends  of  this  Society  will  sufficiently  under- 
stand the  substance  of  these  communications,  when  I 
remind  them  that  one  of  the  chief  characteristics  of 
the  persons  in  question,  is  to  regard  the  Christian  min- 
istry merely  as  a  lucrative  profession,  and  consequently 
to  view  every  effort  we  make  to  propagate  the  Gospel, 
as  arising  from  interested  motives.  While,  therefore, 
they  allow  that  certain  parts  of  your  proceedings  are 
free  from  this  suspicion  to  all  appearance,  they  specify 
other  parts  which  to  their  apprehensions  justify  their 
old  conclusions,  throw  them  back  on  their  sceptical 
prejudices,  and  considerably  diminish  the  amount  -of 
your  usefulness.  And,  brethren,  however  unfounded 
and  unjust  such  suspicions  may  be,  the  great  lesson 
we  have  to  learn  from  it — a  lesson  whose  importance  is 
daily  and  increasingly  illustrated  is  this — that  the  great 
defence  of  the  Gospel  is  the  holy  and  unearthly  benev- 
olence of  those  who  profess  it — that  when  we  have 
delivered  a  thousand  lectures,  and  exhausted  the  last 
argument  in  its  vindication,  the  most  eloquent  lecture, 
and  the  most  convincing  argument,  yet  remain  to  be 
added  in  our  visible  and  disinterested  devotedness  to 
the  welfare  of  those  we  address — and  that  the  nearer 
we  approach  to  that  state  of  evident  disinterestedness, 
the  more  unanswerable  and  complete  will  be  our  de- 
fence of  the  Gospel,  and  the  more  successful  will  our 
God  render  us  in  its  diffiision. 

But  as  to  the  persons  in  question  :  you,  my  friends, 
profess  to  be  tired  of  the  dreary  wretchedness  of 
scepticism — you  are  not  disinclined,  you  say,  to  admit 
the  truth  and  excellence  of  the  Gospel,  but  the  apparent 
selfishness  of  its  professed  advocates  disheartens  and 
deters  you  from  cordially  embracing  it ;  that  is  to  say, 
you  allow  that  you  are  the  subjects  of  a  moral  disease, 
and  that  the  Gospel,  for  aught  you  know,  is  the  only 
remedy ;  but  though  that  remedy  is  brought  to  you 
without  money  and  without  price,  and  though  the  per- 


A    SERMON.  41 

sons  who  bring  it  assure  that  it  is  heahng  them,  yet 
because  you  fancy  that  you  discover  in  them  faint  in- 
dications that  they  are  not  yet  perfectly  restored,  you 
cannot  bring  yourselves  to  accept  the  balm,  but  will 
rather  continue  to  court  destruction.  Is  this  wise  ? — 
is  it  the  part  of  rational  beings  ? — will  it  sound  satisfac- 
tory even  in  your  own  ears,  think  you,  when  God 
shall  eventually  ask  the  question,  as  assuredly  he  will, 
"  Why  was  not  your  immortal  health  recovered  ?" 

Now,  that  which  we  entreat  you  to  do  is — what 
we  know  you  will  then  wish  you  had  done — to  examine 
the  claims  of  the  Gospel  on  their  own  independent 
ground.  Concerned  as  we  are  for  our  own  character, 
we  trust  that  we  are  immeasurably  more  concerned 
for  the  character  of  the  Christian  faith ;  convinced  as 
we  are  that  we  shall  have  to  answer  for  our  worldli- 
ness,  whether  it  tends  to  confirm  your  scepticism  or 
not,  we  are  equally  convinced  that  that  worldliness, 
were  it  tenfold  more  than  it  is,  would  not  exempt  you 
from  the  guilt  of  willingly  and  wilfully  rejecting  the 
Gospel ;  that  the  Gospel  is  supported  by  evidence  so 
distinct  from  the  conduct  of  its  professors,  that  none 
but  a  mind  strongly  predisposed  to  unbelief  could  ever 
be  tempted  to  confound  them  together.  We  point  you 
to  Christ :  his  disinterestedness  you  must  admit ;  by 
report,  you  know  it ;  you  know  the  grace  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  that  though  he  was  rich,  for  our  sakes 
he  became  poor,  that  we  through  his  poverty  might 
be  made  rich.  We  lead  you  to  his  cross ;  you  surely 
will  allow  that  pure  benevolence  alone  can  account  for 
that.  "  Though  he  was  in  the  form  of  God,  and 
thought  it  not  robbery  to  be  equal  with  God,  he  made 
himself  of  no  reputation,  and  took  upon  him  the  form 
of  a  servant,  and  was  made  in  the  likeness  of  men  : 
and  being  found  in  fashion  as  a  man,  he  humbled  him- 
self, and  became  obedient  unto  death,  even  the  death 
of  the  cross."  Look  on  that  blood — it  streams  from 
the  very  heart  of  love.  Well,  that  is  our  balm  of 
Gilead,  and  He  the  physician  there.  "  By  his  stripes 
we  are  healed."     Cross  of  Jesus !  what  hearts  of  stone 


42  LONDON  : 

hast  thou  melted,  what  wounded  spirits  hast  thou  made 
whole,  what  selfishness  hast  thou  dissolved  and  turned 
into  compassion  !  Oh,  if  there  be  love  in  the  universe, 
it  is  here — here,  bleeding  the  balm  of  life  for  perishing 
souls.  Now,  it  is  hers*  we  would  conduct  you,  my 
friends ;  and  that  which  we  ask  you  further  to  believe 
is,  that  this  Society  has  sprung  from  the  benevolence 
of  the  Cross,  and  that  so  far  are  we  actuated  by  its 
benevolence,  that  if  we  only  succeed  in  leading  and 
leaving  you  there  in  the  attitude  of  penitence  and  faith, 
we  shall  count  our  object  gained,  and  our  toil  rewarded. 
If  you  ask  for  the  proof  of  this,  we  think  we  might  justly 
remind  you  that  all  its  ministrations  are  to  you  gratui- 
tous ;  that  if  it  employs  a  few  stipendiary  agents,  that 
is  only  a  further  illustration  of  its  benevolence,  for 
its  own  members  support  them ;  while  its  almost  two 
thousand  visiters  seek  only  the  reward  to  be  found 
in  their  labours. 

But  the  time  may  come,  when  you  may  receive 
from  its  ministers  and  members  more  convincing 
proofs  of  disinterestedness  still.  Send  for  them  in  the 
season  of  your  final  sickness,  or,  rather,  without  send- 
ing for  them,  they  will  be  there  in  the  chamber  of 
death — there  when  all  prospect  of  reaping  worldly 
advantage  from  you  will  have  vanished — there  to  wipe 
the  dew  of  death  from  your  brow — there  to  minister 
relief,  if  you  need  it,  to  your  temporal  wants — there 
to  calm  your  anxiety  for  the  bereaved  widow  and  the 
fatherless  children,  by  assuring  you  of  their  protection 
— there  to  walk  with  you,  as  far  as  they  may,  through 
the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,  and  to  point  you 
at  every  step  to  the  Lamb  of  God,  the  Saviour  of 
the  world. 

But  wait  not,  we  entreat  you,  for  that  final  proof  of 
our  concern.  Trifle  not  thus  with  the  salvation  of 
your  soul.  Could  we  convince  you,  that  all  the  com- 
passion we  profess  for  you  is  real — and  could  we, 
then,  augment  it  a  thousand  fold — it  would  all  be  as 
nothing,  compared  with  the  benevolence  of  Him  to 
whom  we  point  you  for  salvation.      Is  there  nothing 


A  SERMON.  43 

in  his  character  to  attract — nothing  in  his  cross  to  affect 
you — no  blessing  in  his  Gospel  which  you  desire  ? 
Why,  then,  is  not  the  health  of  your  soul  recovered  ? 
Why,  when  it  is  offered  you  freely,  as  the  air  you 
breathe — kindly,  as  the  melting  tones  of  mercy — pa- 
tiently, as  the  long-suffering  of  God — urgently,  as  the 
greatness  of  your  danger,  standing,  as  you  are,  on  the 
verge  of  the  gulf — why,  when  a  number  of  your 
fellow-men  unite  expressly  to  urge  it  on  your  accep- 
tance— when  they  assure  you  of  its  healing  efficacy  on 
themselves — when  the  proofs  of  that  efficacy  are  all 
around  you — and,  when  numbers,  surmounting  all 
these  obstacles  of  which  you  complain,  believe  in 
Christ  and  are  saved,  "  Turn  ye,  turn  ye,  from  your 
evil  ways,  for  why  will  ye  die  ?" 

VIII.  But,  finally,  to  return  to  that  class  to  whom 
our  remarks  have  been  chiefly  directed — to  the  pro- 
fessed friends  of  the  Christian  instruction  of  this  me- 
tropolis— you  ivill  not  plead  that  the  Christian  Churches^ 
to  which  you  belong,  have  yet  done  their  utmost  for  the 
religious  recovery  of  its  inhabitants.  Pleas  and  ex- 
cuses of  this  kind  generally  spring  from  those  who 
do  the  least,  and  who  would  be  better  satisfied  still 
with  doing  nothing  at  all.  They  who  are  the  most 
conspicuous  for  Christian  activity,  are  commonly  the 
most  impatient  and  self-abased  that  so  little  should  be 
done,  while  so  much  remains  undone.  Every  church 
has  its  few  active  and  its  many  indolent  members,  or, 
at  least,  those  who  are  kept  from  indolence,  chiefly  to 
avoid  the  shame  and  the  remonstrances  to  which  it 
would  lead ;  and  well  do  the  few  know,  that  if  the 
many  were  as  active  as  themselves,  their  collective 
usefulness  might  be  greatly  increased.  And  well 
does  the  most  active  church  in  this  metropolis  know, 
that  it  has  within  itself  the  means  of  covering  a  much 
larger  space  than  it  has  ever  yet  occupied  with  the 
works  of  faith  and  the  labours  of  love.  And  well 
does  this  Society  know,  that  if  all  the  Christian  talents 
in  this  city,  which  are  at  present  unemployed,  and  all 
the  resources  still  unexplored,  were  but  brought  out 


44  LONDON: 

from  the  napkin  in  which  they  are  shrouded,  and  from 
under  the  bushel  where  they  are  hid,  and  were  placed 
at  its  disposal,  soon  might  London  be  penetrated  and  per- 
vaded in  all  its  streets,  and  alleys,  and  obscurest  recesses, 
with  the  light  of  the  knowledge  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ. 
We  mean  not  to  say,  that,  in  the  highest  sense  of  the 
t^rm,  it  would  be  universally  evangelised.  To  say  this, 
would  be  to  lose  sight,  both  of  the  depravity  which 
the  Gospel  would  have  to  encounter  in  those  to  whom 
you  took  it,  and  of  its  dependence  for  success  on  the 
accompanying  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  But  we 
do  mean  to  say,  and  would  aim  to  impress  it  on  every 
Christian  present,  that  nothing  but  the  consecration  of 
all  their  available  resources  is  necessary,  in  order  that, 
by  the  Divine  blessing,  the  Christians  of  this  city  may 
speedily  see  its  entire  population  in  possession  of  the 
knowledge  of  the  Gospel  remedy.  We  do  mean  to 
say,  that  the  Christians  of  a  place  are  held  responsible 
for  putting  all  the  inhabitants  of  that  -place  in  posses- 
sion of  the  Gospel — that  wherever  they  have  devoted 
themselves  to  the  object,  they  have  succeeded — that 
to  suppose  in  such  a  case  they  could  have  failed,  is  to 
make  the  responsibility  which  had  rested  on  them, 
return  and  rest  on  him  who  had  imposed  it.  We  do 
affirm,  then,  that  the  consummation  at  which  we  aim, 
depends,  not  on  the  amount  of  your  resources,  but  on 
the  entireness  with  which  you  consecrate  that  amount, 
whether  great  or  small,  to  the  service  ;  that  were  you, 
on  the  one  hand,  to  devote  a  thousand  fold  more  to  it, 
you  would  not  to  be  warranted  to  expect  success,  if 
still  you  kept  back  a  portion  unemployed — but  that  if, 
on  the  other,  your  funds,  and  agents,  and  resources, 
were  to  be  ever  so  much  reduced  from  what  they  now 
are,  still,  if  they  were  all  you  could  furnish,  you  would 
be  warranted  in  expecting  complete  success — that  if 
the  multitude  to  be  fed  be  five  thousand,  besides  wo- 
men and  children,  and  the  means  of  meeting  their 
hunger  consist  only  of  five  loaves  and  two  small 
fishes,  still,  if  the  whole  of  that  scanty  provision  be 
cheerfully  placed  in  the  hand  of  Christ,  in  that  hand 


A  SERMON.  45 

it  will  be  so  greatly  multiplied,  that   they  shall  all  eat 
and  be  filled. 

But  if  this  representation  be  correct,  the  fact  that  a 
large  proportion  of  the  metropolis  is  still  unpossessed 
of  even  the  knowledge  of  the  Gospel  remedy,  demon- 
strates that  its  Christian  Churches  have  not  yet  devoted 
themselves  to  the  work.  And  then  comes  back,  with 
augmented  force,  the  solemn  question,  "  Why  it 
should  be  so?"  If  the  disease  to  be  remedied  were 
physical,  every  available  agency  would  soon  be  put 
into  motion  to  subdue  it.  Why,  then,  when  the  part 
afflicted  is  the  undying  spirit — why,  when  the  remedy 
provided  is  the  very  blood  of  Christ — when  you  are 
intrusted  with  the  means  of  imparting  it,  and  intrusted 
with  them  expressly  that  you  may  impart  it — why, 
when  the  neglect  of  imparting  it  will  be  followed  by 
the  misery  of  the  souls  around  you  without  measure 
and  without  end — and  when  the  result  of  imparting  it 
would  bring  glory  to  your  Saviour,  and  immortal  hap- 
piness to  the  souls  which  would  be  saved — why  are 
you  not  devotedly  administering  the  remedy }  The 
more  zealous  and  active  members  of  this  Society  are 
entitled  to  ask  you,  why,  when  the  diseased  are  dying 
around  you,  and  you  see  that  we  are  in  the  way  of 
checking  the  ravages  of  the  evil,  and  are  only  waiting 
for  your  co-operation  in  order  to  succeed — why  will 
you  refuse  that  assistance,  and  thus,  in  reality,  depress 
our  ardour,  and  impede  our  activity  }  At  least,  give 
us  to-night  more  liberally  of  your  pecuniary  substance, 
and  we  will  do  what  we  can,  by  God's  help,  to  supply 
your  lack  of  service.  The  members  of  other  reli- 
gious Societies,  the  Christians  of  other  places,  are  en- 
titled to  ask,  why,  when  the  moral  recovery  of  London 
would  strengthen  the  hands  of  every  other  agency  for 
doing  good,  and  operate  beneficially  to  the  ends  of  the 
earth — why  will  you  allow  large  masses  of  its  popula- 
tion to  remain  unvisited  and  unhealed,  a  source  of 
wide-spread  contamination  and  moral  death  ?  And 
are  not  the  believers  of  other  times — the  weeping 
prophet — "  the  men  who  sighed  and  cried  for  all  the 


46  LONDON  : 

abominations"  of  Jerusalem — the  agonised  apostle — 
are  they  not  entitled  to  ask,  why  scenes  of  guilt  simi- 
lar to  those  which  convulsed  their  hearts  with  grief, 
should  leave  you  comparatively  unmoved  ?  Rather, 
is  not  he,  the  Lord  of  them  all — he,  who,  when  he 
drew  near  to  Jerusalem,  and  beheld  the  city,  wept 
over  it — is  not  he  supremely  entitled  to  ask,  and  may 
he  not  be  regarded  as  now  inquiring,  "  Why,  with  my 
name  upon  your  lips,  with  my  example  before  your 
eyes,  my  cross  in  your  hands,  and  my  command  to 
carry  it  to  every  house,  to  every  creature,  sounding  in 
your  ears — why  are  thousands  around  you  perishing 
in  ignorance  of  my  salvation  ?" 

And  why  is  it  thus  ?  and  how  long  shall  it  remain  ? 
Till  you  not  merely  listen  to  an  occasional  appeal  on 
the  subject,  but  take  the  moral  statistics  of  this  mighty 
city  into  your  stated  and  devout  consideration — till 
you  vividly  picture  its  spiritual  condition  to  the  eye  of 
your  mind,  or  go  forth,  and  look  into  it,  and  gaze  upon 
it,  with  your  bodily  eyes.  Would  the  Almighty  affect 
his  prophet  with  the  spiritual  death  of  the  Jewish  na- 
tion ?  he  called  him  to  look  on  a  valley  full  of  dry 
bones.  Was  the  spirit  of  Paul  at  Athens  stirred  within 
him  ?  it  was  when  he  saw  the  city  wholly  given  to 
idolatry.  Did  Jesus  weep  over  Jerusalem  ?  it  was 
when  he  drew  near,  and  helield  the  city.  And  if  you 
would  be  duly  impressed  with  the  spiritual  destitution 
of  your  Jerusalem — look  at  it — dwell  on  it — and  soon 
will  your  eye  affect  your  heart.  Have  you  been  moved 
of  late  by  graphic  accounts  of  heathen  wretchedness  ? 
and  have  you  felt  that,  did  no  physical  and  political 
obstacles  intervene,  you  could  go  through  the  heathen 
world  proclaiming  the  Gospel  of  Christ?  The  world 
of  London  guilt  stretches  immediately  around  you, 
with  no  such  obstacles  to  prevent  your  instant  and  en- 
tire consecration  to  the  work  of  applying  the  Gospel 
remedy.  No  Atlantic  nor  Pacific  rolls  between  you 
and  the  objects  of  our  present  solicitude — they  are  in 
your  streets,  and  at  your  doors.  No  Chinese  exclusive- 
ness  is  here — London  "  is  open"  to  all  you  can  do  for 


A    SERMON.  47 

it — open  in  all  its  streets,  and  in  every  dwelling.  No 
savage  tribe  here  threatens  you  with  immolation  to  its 
idol  gods.  Your  only  danger  here  lies  in  neglect — the 
danger  of  incurring  Divine  displeasure,  and  the  up- 
braidings  of  the  souls  you  neglect.  Every  considera- 
tion then  urges  you  to  activity ;  and  the  word  of  him 
that  cannot  lie  promises  to  crown  that  activity  with 
success.  Only  let  your  Christian  endeavours  corres- 
pond with  your  resources,  and  your  prayers  call  down 
the  Spirit  of  God  upon  the  whole — and,  "I  will  re- 
store health  unto  thee,  and  I  will  heal  thy  wounds,  saith 
the  Lord."  Your  very  "  walls  shall  be  salvation,  and 
your  gates  praise."  And  the  name  of  the  city  from 
that  day  shall  be,  (Jehovah  Shamma,)  The  Lord  is 
there." 


CHRISTIAN  PATRIOTISM; 
A  SERMON 


DELIVERED    BEFORE  THE    HOME    MISSIONARY    SOCIETY,* 
AT    THE    POULTRY    CHAPEL,    LONDON, 

MAY  16,  1842. 

i  say  the  truth  in  Christ,  I  lie  not,  my  conscience  also  hearing  me 
witness  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  that  1  have  great  heaviness  and  con- 
tinual sorrow  in  my  heart,  for  I  could  rvish  that  myself  were 
accursed  from  Christ  for  my  brethren,  my  kinsmen  according  to 
the  fesh. 

Brethren,  my  hearfs  desire  and  prayer  to  God  for  Israel  is,  that 
they  might  be  saved.    Rom.  ix.  1 — 3.    x.  1. 

When  the  apostle  gave  expression  to  these  sentiments, 
he  had  long  and  painfully  learned  how  difficult  it  is  to 
differ  in  opinion  from  those  among  whom  we  live,  or  to 
aim  at  their  improvement,  without  incurring  their  aver- 
sion— it  may  be  their  active  and  unceasing  hatred.  If 
we,  of  the  present  day,  have  not  learnt  this  lesson,  it 
cannot  be  for  want  of  illustration  and  even  experience. 
But  the  evils  of  this  nature  to  which  we  may  be  expos- 
ed, are  mere  inconveniences  compared  with  those 
which  the  apostle  had  to  endure.     Picture  his  posi- 

*  The  Home  Missionary  Society,  composed  of  Congregational  Dissen- 
ters, was  formed  in  London,  in  1819  ;  its  great  object  is  the  evangelization 
of  the  unenlightened  towns  and  villages  of  Great  Britain,  in  the  accom- 
plishment of  which  it  has  been  eminently  successful.  It  is  a  voluntary 
institution,  and  Christian  liberality  has  contributed  to  its  funds  about 
£140,000,  or  nearly  700,000  dollars.  The  general  results  of  the  Society*! 
labours  may  be  thus  presented  : — 


A  SERMON.  49 

lion.  With  all  his  knowledge  of  the  black  and  boiling 
rage  with  which  the  Jews  regarded  the  triumphs  of  the 
cross — for  he  himself  had  been  exceedingly  mad 
against  it — he  had  not  merely  to  meet  them  incident- 
ally in  society  as  a  Christian  man — but  to  go  and 
address  himself  to  them  as  a  Christian  apostle.  Well 
as  he  knew  their  bigoted  nationality.,  he  had  yet  to 
address  them  as  the  apostle  of  Christ  to  the.  Gentiles. 
Deeply  as  he  could  sympathize  with  their  pharisaic 
pride  as  the  children  of  the  Theocracy,  he  had  to  an- 
nounce the  mortifying  truth,  that  their  obedience  to 
the  law,  confidently  as  they  relied  on  it — and  their 
peculiar  privileges,  much  as  they  gloried  in  them, 
would  avail  them  nothing  as    means    of  salvation — 

1.  It  has  introduced  the  Gospel  into  some  hundreds  of  parishes,  where 
it  was  previously  unknown. 

2.  It  has  been  instrumental  in  the  conversion  of  thousands  of  individ- 
uals— hundreds  of  whom  have  died  in  the  faith  of  Christ. 

3.  It  has  collected  bodies  of  Christian  converts  together  in  many 
places  where  there  had  been  none  before.  Churches  of  professed  believ- 
ers have  thus  been  formed,  who  are  now  actively  engaged  in  works  of 
Christian  benevolence,  in  teaching  the  young,  in  circulating  the  Scrip- 
tures and  religious  tracts — and  in  every  possible  way  trying  to  increase 
human  happiness,  by  spreading  around  them  the  influence  of  pure  and 
undefiled  religion. 

4.  The  Society  has  been  instrumental  in  obtaining  the  erection  of 
many  places  of  religious  worship,  and  though  it  claims  no  property  in 
nny  such  buildings,  it  takes  care  that  they  shall  be  secured  for  the  use  of 
the  people,  in  connection  with  the  preaching  of  evangelical  doctrines, 
and  no  others. 

5.  It  has  collected  many  thousands  of  persons,  the  greater  portion  of 
whom  had  formerly  never  attended  the  public  worship  of  God.  These 
hearers  are  to  be  found  scattered  over  more  than  thirty  counties  of  Eng- 
land, and  in  the  midst  of  a  population  of  more  than  half  a  million  of  hu_ 
man  beings,  to  whom  the  preaching  of  the  Missionaries  is  accessible. 

6.  The  Society  has  been  the  means  of  collecting  thousands  of  chil- 
dren in  Sunday-schools  ;  many  of  those  so  instructed  in  the  earlier 
years  of  its  existence,  are  now  members  of  Christian  churches,  village 
preachers,  and  the  most  efficient  teachers  of  the  present  generation  of 
the  young,  in  the  Sunday-schools  of  the  Society.  School-rooms  have 
been  erected,  week-day  schools  have  also  been  formed,  Sunday-school 
libraries  established,  and  a  desire  for  knowledge  has  been  spread  among 
the  parents  and  the  children,  on  the  various  stations.    Ed. 

4 


50  CHRISTIAN    PATRIOTISM  I 

absolutely  nothing.  And  well  as  he  knew  that  their 
pride  and  prejudices  had  gone  on  increasing  in  propor- 
tion as  their  glory  had  departed — ^till  now  they  had 
reached  a  state  of  the  most  morbid  sensitiveness  res- 
pecting their  national  importance  and  religious  securi- 
ty— he  had  to  discharge  the  painful  duty  of  announc- 
ing, not  merely,  like  an  ancient  prophet,  that  their 
economy  was  in  danger — that  it  would  be  repealed  at 
some  future  time,  but  that,  by  a  judicial  act  of  God, 
they  were  now  to  look  on  themselves  as  already  and 
actually  cast  off,  and  the  Gentiles  called  in  their  stead. 
This  was  truly  the  burden  of  the  Lord — all  the 
burdens  of  the  Lord  collected  into  one.  To  have  had 
to  deliver  it,  would  have  been  gratifying  to  a  harsh  and 
malignant  spirit — especially  if  smarting  from  the  in- 
sults he  had  received  from  his  countrymen.  As  he 
poured  out  vial  after  vial  with  slow  and  steady  hand, 
he  would  have  called  his  fiendish  deliberation,  fidelity 
to  God ;  and  have  mistaken  his  own  feast  of  malev- 
olence, for  zeal  for  the  Lord  of  hosts.  To  a  timid 
spirit,  anxious  only  not  to  offend,  the  burden  would 
have  been  intolerable.  He  would  have  clothed  his 
message  in  soft  and  silken  terms — and  have  mistaken 
his  shrinking  delicacy  for  Christian  conciliation.  But, 
mark,  how  admirably  the  apostle  reconciles  unsparing 
fidelity  to  the  Gospel,  with  ardent  affection  for  his 
countrymen.  In  professing  for  them  that  affection,  he 
knew  that  he  was  about  to  avow  what  they  would 
deem  utterly  incredible.  But,  said  he,  "  I  say  the  truth 
in  Christ ;  I  lie  not ;  my  conscience  also  bearing  me 
witness  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  that  I  have  great  heaviness 
and  continual  sorrow  in  my  heart.  For  I  could  wish 
that  myself  were  accursed  from  Christ,  for  my  breth- 
ren, my  kinsmen  according  to  the  flesh."  The  phrase 
"•J  could  loisli  it^''''  implies  the  presence  of  a  condi- 
tion which  he  knew  to  be  impossible  ;  and  that  there- 
fore he  ought  not,  did  not,  wish  it ;  that  the  wish  would 
not  have  been  availing,  allowable,  or  proper.  "  But 
such,"  said  he,  "  is  my  love  to  my  countrymen,  that 
were  it  proper  and  possible^  I  would  devote   myself  to 


A    SERMON.  51 

the  destruction  which  threatens  them,  could  they  by- 
such  means  escape." 

Having  thus  avowed  his  deep  concern  for  their 
welfare,  he  boldly  advances  to  his  painful  duty.  He 
shows,  first,  that  God  may  consistently  reject  the  Jews, 
and  extend  salvation  to  the  Gentiles  ;  second,  that  he 
had  declared  by  his  ancient  prophets  that  such  was  his 
purpose  ;  and  third,  that  he  had  now  actually  carried 
his  purpose  into  effect.  And  having  thus  far  discharged 
the  burden  of  the  Lord,  he  again  takes  up  the  lan- 
guage of  passionate  protestation  for  their  welfare — 
language  in  which  he  appears  to  breathe  forth  his 
inmost  soul — "  Brethren,  my  hearth's  desire  and  prayer 
to  God  for  Israel  is,  that  they  might  be  saved."  May 
God  baptize  us  with  the  same  spirit  of  holy  solicitude 
for  the  salvation  of  all  around  us — while  we  endeavour 
to  show — That  enlightened  patriotism  is  a  Christian 
virtue — That  the  highest  order  of  patriotism  is  that 
which  leads  us  to  seek  the  salvation  of  our  country- 
men— That  the  highest  order  of  instrumentality  we  can 
employ  for  this  purpose,  includes  willing  self-denial 
and  earnest  prayer — And  that,  besides  the  great  general 
motives  which  should  induce  us  to  seek  their  salvation 
in  common  with  that  of  all  other  men,  some,  of  the 
special  reasons  which  moved  the  apostle  should  equally 
operate  upon  us. 

I.  First,  we  have  to  show  that  enlightened  patriot- 
ism is  a  Christian  virtue.  Some  of  you  may  not  be 
unaware,  that  among  the  unfounded  objections  which 
infidelity,  at  one  time,  raised  against  the  Gospel,  one 
was — that  it  does  not  inculcate  patriotism — the  love  of 
our  country.  Yes,  such  was  its  rage  for  objections 
against  Christianity — against  a  system  which  incul- 
cates whatsoever  things  are  honest,  lovely,  and  of  good 
report — and  such  the  dearth  of  objections,  that  it  actu- 
ally uttered  the  groundless  complaint  that  the  gospel  is 
silent  on  the  subject  of  patriotism.  Now,  had  the  ob- 
jector been  required  to  define  what  he  meant  by  the 
term,  he  would  have  found  himself  answering  his  own 
objection.     Would  he  refer,  for  example,  to  the  patriot- 


52  CHRISTIAN    PATRIOTISM  : 

ism  of  the  Jews  ?  that,  as  we  have  seen,  was  bigotry 
— bigotry  which  consigned  the  whole  human  race, 
themselves  excepted,  to  destruction.  We  hope  it  is 
no  disgrace  to  the  Gospel,,  that  it  does  not  inculcate 
bigotry.  Would  he  refer  to  the  patriotism  of  Greece  ? 
that  was  pride — pride  which  looked  down  on  the  peo- 
ple of  every  other  land  as  on  a  horde  of  barbarians. 
Or  to  the  patriotism  of  Rome  ?  that  was  martial  am,' 
hition — ambition  which  regarded  all  the  world  besides 
as  made  to  be  conquered  and  enslaved.  We  hope  it 
is  not  deemed  a  disparagement  to  the  Gospel,  that  it 
does  not  inculcate  pride,  nor  military  aggression.  Or 
would  he  refer  to  the  patriotism  of  modern  nations  > 
that  has  been  marked  by  selfishness,  unrelenting  self- 
ishness towards  all  who  lived  beyond  certain  territorial 
limits.  "  Is  there  any  thing  more  ridiculous,"  asks 
the  sagacious  Pascal,  "  than  that  a  man  has  a  right  to 
kill  me  because  he  lives  across  the  water,  and  that  his 
prince  has  a  quarrel  with  mine,  though  I  have  none 
with  him  ?"  We  hope  it  is  no  imputation  on  the  Gos- 
pel, that  it  does  not  inculcate  such  a  spirit.  No,  it 
says  nothing  that  has  the  remotest  tendency  to  build  in 
a  nation  with  a  Chinese  wall  of  selfishness.  It  con- 
fers not  on  one  state  a  right  to  forge  fetters  for  another. 
It  kindles  no  brand  to  ignite  those  popular  passions  and 
national  antipathies  which  are  themselves  liable  to 
spontaneous  combustion.  It  proposes  to  sanctify  and 
subordinate  patriotism  to  the  nobler  purposes  of  phi- 
lanthropy— the  love  of  country  to  the  love  of  man. 
Assuming  the  principle  that  every  true  interest  is  uni- 
versal, it  refuses  to  entertain  any  project  as  final ^  less 
than  the  amelioration  of  the  species.  In  prosecuting 
its  march,  therefore,  it  consults  the  map  of  the  world. 
And  already  its  harmonizing  efl?ects  are  widely  felt. 
As  the  sun  of  righteousness  ascends  in  the  firmament, 
and  our  moral  horizon  enlarges,  those  whom  we  had 
seen  only  by  the  torch-light  of  prejudice,  disfigured  as 
phantoms  whom  it  was  thought  merit  to  hate,  are  dis- 
covered to  be  men  whom  it  is  a  pleasure  to  love.  Nor 
is  the  healing  process  to  terminate,  till  all  kindreds, 


A    SERMON.  53 

people,  and  tongues,  are  drawn  into  the  close  relation- 
ship of  a  family  compact,  preparatory  to  the  final 
assembly  of  the  church  in  heaven. 

.But  every  country  sustains  a  twofold  relation — an 
external,  and  an  internal.  In  its  external  aspect,  or 
relation  to  other  lands,  we  have  seen  that  the  Gospel 
would  convert  every  people  it  visits  into  agents  of 
good  to  "  every  creature."  And  while  thus  aiming  at 
universal  benevolence,  it  does  not  overleap  any  of  the 
inner  and  smaller  circles  of  civil  life.  Beginning  with 
the  individual,  it  requires  him  to  do  unto  others  as  he 
would  they  should  do  unto  him.  Entering  the  domes- 
tic circle,  it  hallows  the  marriage  union,  inculcates  fil- 
ial obedience,  enjoins  on  servants  honesty  and  fidelity, 
and  considerate  kindness  on  masters.  Passing  through 
the  various  classes  of  society,  it  requires  them  to  be 
diligent  in  business  ;  given  to  hospitality ;  ready  to  for- 
give ;  to  give  to  him  that  needeth ;  and,  as  they  have 
opportunity,  to  do  good  unto  all.  It  gives  the  magis- 
trate a  sword  with  which  he  is  to  be  a  terror  to  evil 
doers,  and  a  praise  to  them  that  do  well ;  enjoins  the 
subject  to  render  unto  all  their  due ;  and,  entering  the 
house  of  prayer,  it  authoritatively  exhorts  "  that  sup- 
plications, prayers^  intercessions,  and  giving  of  thanks, 
be  made  for  all  men :  for  kings,  and  for  all  that  are  in 
authority ;  that  we  may  lead  a  quiet  and  peaceable 
life  in  all  godliness  and  honesty."  Indeed,  the  Gospel 
prescribes  every  general  rule,  and  tends  to  form  every 
principle  of  virtue — on  which  the  welfare  of  a  people 
can  depend ;  and  it  would  be  easy  to  show  that  no 
evil  could  possibly  befal  a  state,  either  in  its  internal 
or  external  relations,  which  does  not  arise  from  the 
neglect  of  these  virtues,  or  the  violation  of  these  laws. 

But  on  this  subject,  the  Gospel  is  as  rich  in  example 
as  in  precept.  In  the  conduct  of  our  blessed  Lord, 
we  behold  a  holy  patriotism  personified — the  love  of 
country  emdodied.  "  I  am  not  sent,"  said  he,  "  but 
to  the  lost  sheep  of  the  house  of  Israel ;"  intimating 
how  gladly  he  would  have  become  the  Shepherd  of 
Israel-     Where  did    patriotism  ever  exhibit  a  nobler 


54  CHRISTIAN    PATRIOTISM  : 

burst  of  sorrow  than  when,  on  Mount  Olivet,  he  be- 
held the  city,  and  wept  over  it,  and  said,  "  O  Jerusa- 
lem !  Jerusalem  1  how  often  would  I  have  gathered 
thee,  as  a  hen  gathereth  her  chickens  under  her  wings, 
but  ye  would  not !"  Whose  patriotism  ever  endured 
what  his  did — -toils,  reproaches,  unceasing  persecution, 
ignominious  death — yet  saved  his  latest  breath  to  say, 
"  Father,  forgive  them,  they  know  not  what  they  do." 
He  had  but  few  offices  to  bestow — but  they  were  the 
highest  out"  of  heaven — and  these  he  bestowed  on. 
twelve  of  his  countrymen  according  to  the  flesh.  He 
had  but  one  gift  to  impart — but  oh,  it  comprehends 
every  other — the  gift  of  eternal  life  ;  and  this  he  di- 
rected to  be  offered  to  his  country  first — "  beginning 
at  Jerusalem." 

Christianity  unfriendly  to  patriotism  !  Let  the  lan- 
guage of  Paul  confute  the  slander.  Though  his  coun- 
trymen were  his  bitterest  foes — though  he  had  receiv- 
ed at  their  hands  '^  stripes  and  imprisonments,  and 
deaths  oft,"  yet  with  a  yearning  for  their  welfare, 
which  nothing  could  appease,  he  exclaimed,  "I  could 
wish  myself,  were  it  available  or  right,  made  an  anath- 
ema for  their  sakes."  And  his  conduct  strictly  accord- 
ed with  his  professions.  Follow  him  from  city  to  city, 
and  you  will  find  that  his  first  resort  is  to  the  syna- 
gogue. His  first  object  of  solicitude  in  every  place  is 
the  salvation  of  his  brethren  according  to  the  flesh. 
The  language  of  his  life  was,  '^  My  heart's  desire  and 
prayer  to  God  for  Israel  is  that  they  might  be  saved." 
And,  still,  the  Christians  of  a  country  are  its  best  pa- 
triots. If  a  foul  blot  is  to  be  wiped  from  a  nation's 
brow,  like  that  of  slavery — their  hand  is  the  first  to 
remove  it.  If  they  unite  to  send  forth  their  agents 
into  distant  lands — it  is  to  civilize  the  aborigines  of 
their  colonies,  and  to  lift  their  foreign  dependencies  in 
the  scale  of  morality.  If  they  impart  instruction  to 
the  rising  race  at  home — it  is  that  kind  of  knowledge 
calculated  to  render  its  recipients  the  most  useful  mem- 
bers of  the  community.  If  they  assemble  together — 
they  meet  not  in  scenes  of  dissipation,  to  corrupt  the 


A   SERMON.  55 

morals  of  society — but,  as  we  now  meet,  to  elevate  its 
character,  and  to  promote  its  highest  welfare.  In  short, 
if  there  be  any  efficacy  in  prayer — any  value  in  the 
blessing  of  God — then  is  the  Christian  the  true  bene- 
factor of  his  land ;  for  on  him  it  devolves  to  offer  that 
prayer,  and  to  draw  down  that  blessing. 

II.  This  brings  us.  to  our  second  particular — that  the 
highest  order  of  patriotism  is  that  which  leads  us  to  seek 
the  salvation  of  our  countrymen.  We  are  far  from 
saying  that  every  thing  short  of  this  is  worthless.  We 
have  studiously  employed  language  to  imply  the  con- 
trary. When  it  is  remembered  that  the  great  majority 
of  a  people  aim  at  nothing  higher  than  their  own  personal 
and  present  comfort ;  that  they  are  content  to  leave  the 
world  as  they  found  it — as  ignorant,  as  helpless,  and  as 
miserable — and  even  worse  than  they  found  it,  provided 
they  may  be  left  to  their  animal  enjoyments — -when 
this  is  remembered,  it  must  be  allowed  that  the  man  who 
rises  above  this  selfishness ;  who  steps  out  from  the 
herd  of  mankind,  and  endeavours  to  do  them  good — 
however  low  and  limited  his  object  may  be — that  man 
deserves  well  of  his  fellows.  He  who  aims  only  to 
alleviate  the  toils  of  human  labour,  and  to  multiply  the 
passing  comforts  of  human  life,  does  well.  He  who 
laboriously  studies  the  structure  of  the  human  frame, 
and  who  does  it  in  order  to  expel  its  diseases  and  pro- 
long its  life — is  acting  wisely  and  well.  He  who  lays 
himself  out  in  any  way  for  the  good  of  society — who 
endeavours  to  simplify  its  laws,  to  enlarge  its  commerce, 
to  multiply  and  regulate  its  charities,  and  to  protect  its 
liberties — who  hears  the  groans  of  the  oppressed,  only 
that  he  may  endeavour  to  allay  them,  and  the  chains 
of  the  captive,  only  that  he  may  labour  to  break  them — 
his  aim  is  higher  still.  Let  him  have  the  gratitude  of 
his  country  while  he  lives ;  and,  when  he  dies,  let  his 
memory  be  monumentally  preserved.  But  high  and 
honourable  as  these  objects  are,  compared  with  the  aim 
of  him  who  seeks  the  salvation  of  those  around  him, 
they  sink  into  low  insignificance.  For  what  after  all 
is  their  end  ?  to  alleviate  the  symptoms  of  a  disease. 


56  CHRISTIAN  patriotism: 

the  seat  of  which  they  are  unable  to  reach.  But  he, 
without  disregarding  the  symptoms,  aims  at  the  extinc- 
tion of  the  entire  disease,  and  at  the  implantation  of  a 
new,  an  immortal  life. 

Now,  we  are  prepared  to  show  that  nothing  but  Chris- 
tianity has  ever  done  this  for  a  people — can  ever  eifect 
it.  We  are  aware,  indeed,  that,  in  the  present  day, 
religion  has  many  competitors  for  the  honour  of  improv- 
ing mankind  ;  that  civilization  and  law,  political  econo- 
my and  secular  instruction,  forgetting  their  total  failure 
as  a  remedy  for  man,  during  the  thousands  of  years  in 
which  they  had  the  world  to  themselves,  have  generally 
come  to  believe  that  could  they  now  but  be  left  to  work 
alone,  they  should  need  no  higher  aid  to  renovate  society, 
and  to  make  the  world  happy.  But  sift  their  preten- 
sions. Call  for  witnesses.  Ask  science  what  it  has 
done  for  a  people  when  unguided  by  revelation,  and  you 
will  find  that  it  has  invariably  led  through  scepticism  and 
sensuality  to  destruction — that  however  simple  the 
character  of  a  people  may  be,  while  struggling  to 
establish  their  political  existence,  in  no  instance  what- 
ever has  a  progress  in  arts,  and  science,  and  attendant 
wealth,  unaccompanied  by  religion,  failed  to  increase 
the  luxury  and  licentiousness,  the  arrogance  and  selfish- 
ness of  a  people,  and  thus  to  seal  their  doom.  Examine 
the  influence  of  mere  philosophy  upon  a  nation ;  and 
one  of  its  ablest  historians  informs  us  that,  in  Greece, 
its  diflusion  was  attended  with  a  certain  refinement  of 
manners,  and  the  deterioration  of  all  moral  and  religious 
habits.  Investigate  the  merit  of  mere  civilization ;  and 
its  ablest  living  expounder  tells  us  that  as  societies  are 
born,  and  live,  and  die,  upon  the  earth,  they  contain  not 
the  whole  man — cannot  touch  the  nobler  part  of  his 
nature — that  he  has  a  higher  destiny  than  that  of  states  ; 
so  that  if  the  soul  be  diseased,  civilization  can  only 
restrain  the  eruption  when  it  endangers  the  social 
health.  Investigate  the  claims  of  law ;  its  acknowl- 
edged function  is,  not  to  remedy  the  evils  of  human 
depravity,  but  just  to  keep  them  within  certain  limits. 
The  perpetual  enactment  of  new  laws,  is  a  tacit  con- 


A   SERMON.  57 

fession  of  the  insufficiency  of  nearly  all  the  legislation 
of  the  past.  By  some  of  pur  judges  was  it  more  em- 
phatically than  ever  reiterated  during  their  recent  cir- 
cuits, that,  for  the  prevention  of  crime,  law  must  be 
entirely  beholden  to  the  influence  of  a  sound  religious 
education.  Examine  the  effect  of  political  government^ 
in  building  up  the  moral  character  of  a  nation ;  alas, 
there  is  not  one  which  does  not  legalize  some  vices, 
and  which  is  not  content  to  swell  its  revenues  by  traffic- 
ing  in  others.  Who  has  not  heard  of  Plato's  ideal  re- 
public ;  of  Harrington's  Oceana ;  of  Bacon's  New 
Atlantis ;  and  of  More's  Utopia — all  Utopian  schemes 
of  government — and  all  of  them,  down  to  the  debas- 
ing and  impracticable  scheme  of  the  modern  socialist — 
all  of  them  implying  that  the  form  of  government  es- 
sential to  the  moral  welfare  of  society  is  yet  to  arise. 
And  the  reason  of  the  inefficiency  of  all  these  human 
instruments  is  obvious.  Man  has  a  physical,  intellectual, 
and  moral  constitution ;  and  they  all  of  them  invite 
defeat,  by  thwarting  and  running  counter  to  some  of 
the  laws  of  that  constitution.  Besides  which,  and 
principally,  that  constitution  itself  has  been  deranged 
and  subverted  by  sin ;  and  none  of  these  instruments 
have  the  power  of  harmonizing  and  restoring  it. 

If  there  be,  then,  a  system  calculated  to  remedy  the 
evil,  that  must  be  the  highest  order  of  patriotism  which 
employs  it.  Now  such  a  system  is  the  Gospel.  And 
a  moment's  consideration  will  disclose  the  reasons  of 
its  efficiency.  We  just  now  remarked  that,  in  forming 
a  good  society,  the  Gospel  begins  with  the  individual 
man.  We  have  now  to  remark  that,  in  forming  the 
man,  it  begins  with  his  heart.  There  the  plague-spot 
first  appeared — there  the  disease  of  sin  is  seated,  and 
there  the  Spirit  of  God  applies  the  remedy.  It  passes 
through  the  understanding,  indeed,  in  a  path  of. light; 
but  its  message  is  to  the  heart.  It  speaks  to  the  imag- 
ination ;  but  to  the  conscience  it  thunders.  It  carries 
the  judgment  along  with  it ;  but  the  heart  is  the  place 
where  it  works.  It  discloses  to  man  the  astounding 
fact,  that  the  reason  of  all  his  guilt  and  misery  is,  that 


58  CHRISTIAN    PATRIOTISM  : 

he  has  lost  God  out  of  his  heart — that  a  host  of  evils 
have  rushed  in  and  taken  possession — and  that  never 
till  these  are  disowned  and  hated,  and  God  is  v^elcomed 
back  again,  can  he  hope  to  be  truly  virtuous,  or  safe,  or 
happy.  Is  he  aroused  to  a  sense  of  his  alarming  condi- 
tion ?  does  he  utter  a  loud  cry  for  mercy  ?  The  Gospel 
points  to  the  sacrifice  of  Christ,  and  proclaims,  "  atone- 
ment is  made  ;  for  the  sake  of  that  sacrifice,  God  is 
prepared  to  blot  out  all  your  guilt."  Does  he  com- 
plain of  depraved  affections,  and  unsatisfied  desires  ^  it 
offers  him  a  new  heart ;  puts  him  under  the  influence 
of  the  great  renewing  Spirit ;  tells  him  that  his  renova- 
tion has  commenced  already ;  and  presents  his  affec- 
tions with  objects  which  purify  and  ennoble  just  in  pro- 
portion as  he  loves  and  values  them.  Does  he 
dread  lest  the  world  should  return  and  tyrannize  over 
him  again  ?  The  Gospel  throws  open  to  his  view 
another  world — brings  life  and  immortality  to  light — 
brings  them  as  from  an  unknown  distance,  and  places 
them  before  him — brings  heaven  with  all  its  glories 
into  his  horizon — surrounds  him  with  the  solemn  pomp 
and  spiritual  inhabitants  of  the  unseen  world — so  sur- 
rounds him,  that  they  look  down  upon  him,  press 
in  upon  him,  that,  do  what  he  will,  he  feels  that  he  is 
moving  under  the  powers  of  the  world  to  come.  And 
in  this  way,  having  enlisted  the  moral  nature  of  the 
man  on  the  side  of  holiness,  it  works  like  leaven,  from 
the  centre  outwards,  till  the  whole  man  be  leavened. 
Armed  with  the  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  the  Gos- 
pel goes  down  to  the  depths  of  his  nature,  making  him 
a  new  creature  in  Christ  Jesus — wise  in  a  science 
which  the  wisdom  of  this  world  never  knew — the 
subject  of  a  government  destined  to  absorb  every 
other,  and  "  which  is  righteousness,  and  peace,  and 
joy,  in  the  Holy  Ghost." 

And,  beyond  this,  the  Gospel  having  thus  rescued 
his  moral  nature,  places  it  in  harmonious  relation,  not 
only  with  every  part  of  his  own  nature,  but  places 
him — the  whole  man — in  harmonious  relation  with 
every  object,  and  every  law,  physical,  social,  and  moral, 


A    SERMON.  59 

which  God  has  appointed  or  approves.  The  Gos- 
pel of  the  grace  of  God,  which  hath  appeared  to  him, 
"  teacheth  him,  that  denying  ungodliness  and  worldly- 
lusts,  he  is  to  live  soberly,  righteously,  and  godly,  in 
the  present  world."  And  he  now  obeys,  "  not  only 
for  wrath,  but  for  conscience  sake."  Besides  which, 
a  sphere  of  Christian  usefulness  to  others,  opens 
around  him.  Desires  which  he  never  knew,  and  mo- 
tives which  he  never  felt  before,  constrain  him  "to 
live,  not  unto  himself,  but  to -him  that  died  for  him, 
and  rose  again."  Henceforth,  he  is  a  blessing  to  the 
community  of  which  he  is  a  member.  And  his 
heart's  desire,  and  prayer  to  God  is,  that  all  around 
him  may  be  saved. 

Now  Christianity,  in  thus  beginning  with  the  heart 
of  man,  and  in  restoring  him  to  God  first,  differs  es- 
sentially from  all  those  human  instruments  of  improve- 
ment on  which  the  world  relies,  and  which  we  just 
now  named.  It  proceeds  on  the  principle  that  as  all 
the  ills  of  life  originated  in  man's  guilty  separation 
from  God,  so  the  first  step  towards  the  removal  of 
these  is  to  restore  his  happy  relationship  to  God.  It 
by  no  means  rejects  these  human  instruments — civili- 
zation, laws,  government,  philosophy — it  accepts  them 
all,  employs  them  all.  Where  they  are  not,  the  Gos- 
pel introduces  them  ;  where  they  are,  it  directs  and 
devolopes  them.  But  as  they  are  utterly  inefficacious 
for  man's  moral  disease,  the  Gospel  holds  them  in  en- 
tire subordination  to  the  great  remedy.  And,  in  this 
respect,  the  Gospel  is  simply  consistent — and  is  the 
only  system  which  is  consistent.  Boast  of  philoso- 
phy ! — the  Gospel  is  the  only  true  philosophy,  for  it 
does  not  expect  to  gain  its  ends  without  the  employ- 
ment of  adequate  means.  Talk  of  fanaticism  ! — 
Christianity  is  the  only  remedial  system  which  is  not 
chargeable  with  that ;  for  it  is  the  only  system  which 
does  not  expect  to  make  the  fruit  good,  without  first 
making  the  tree  good.  It  does  not  calculate  on  the 
peaceableness  of  the  man,  who  is  still  at  war  with 
himself;  nor   on   the  civil  obedience  of  him,  whose 


60  CHRISTIAN   PATRIOTISM  : 

breast  is  a  scene  of  anarchy ;  nor  on  the  agency  of 
him  as  a  friend  of  real  freedom,  who  is  still  led  cap- 
tive by  Satan  at  his  will.  It  leaves  it  to  the  wise  men 
of  this  world,  to  attempt  to  gather  grapes  from  thorns, 
or  figs  from  thistles. 

Christianity,  then,  becomes  profitable  for  the  life 
that  now  is,  by  aiming  supremely  at  the  life  which  is 
to  come.  It  attains  the  lower  good,  while  accomplish- 
ing the  higher.  It  makes  a  man  provident  for  time, 
by  making  him  provident  for  eternity.  It  renders  him 
obedient  to  the  law  of  the  land,  by  making  him  first  a 
law  unto  himself.  It  induces  him  to  relax  his  grasp 
on  the  pelf  of  this,  world,  by  placing  within  his  reach 
the  durable  riches  of  another.  What  numbers  have 
admired  the  peaceful  and  hallowed  scene  pourtrayed  in 
the  Cotter's  Saturday  Night.  And  many  a  Christian 
patriot  may  have  sighed  and  wished  that  such  were  the 
domestic  economy  of  every  family.  And  many  a 
righteous  legislator,  at  his  wit's  end  for  new  expedi- 
ents of  government,  may  have  reflected  how  easy  and 
grateful  a  task  it  would  be  to  govern  a  nation  compos- 
ed of  such  families.  And  so  it  would  be.  For  what 
need  of  the  laws  to  enforce  the  observance  of  the 
Sabbath,  where  the  heart  of  the  people  was  longing 
through  the  week  for  the  return  of  the  day  of  rest  ? 
How  much  would  the  question  of  making  provision 
for  the  poor  be  simplified,  where  poverty  was  indus- 
trious, and  sought  no  more  aid  than  was  absolutely 
necessary  ;  and  where  benevolence  extended  that  aid 
with  a  wise  and  a  willing  hand  !  How  little  need  of 
capacious  prisons,  where  every  home  was  a  school  of 
moral  discipline  ;  or  of  an  armed  police,  where  every 
district  was  guarded  by  a  standing  army  of  Christian 
virtues  !  Oh,  that  men  were  wise,  that  they  under- 
stood this  !  "  For  this" — we  might  say  to  them,  as 
Moses  did  to  Israel — "  this  is  your  wisdom  and  under- 
standing in  the  sight  of  the  nations,  which  shall  hear 
all  these  statutes,  and  say.  Surely  this  great  nation  is  a 
wise  and  understanding  people  !" 

And  is  it  so,  that  Christianity  would  thus  renovate 


A    SERMON.  61 

the  social  life  of  a  people,  while  aiming  at  their  spir- 
itual and  eternal  good  ?  How  evident  is  it,  then,  that 
that  is  the  highest  order  of  patriotism  which  seeks  their 
salvation !  Brethren,  let  others  aim  only  at  their  infe- 
rior good,  aim  you  at  the  highest,  "  and  all  these  infe- 
rior things  shall  be  added  to  them."  Let  others  think 
only  of  leading  them  into  the  paths  of  science,  fame, 
and  power ;  do  you  aspire  to  lead  them  into  the  path  of 
life — the  path  which  knows  no  end  till  it  has  conduct- 
ed them  to  a  throne  in  the  kingdom  of  God.  And  re- 
member, that  in  thus  blessing  them  spiritually,  you  are 
blessing  them  temporally  also.  And  in  benefiting 
them  individually,  you  are  benefiting  the  nation  gen- 
erally— you  are  thinning  the  ranks  of  ignorance, 
worthlessness,  and  vice  ;  and  you  are  multiplying  the 
elements  of  national  order  and  greatness.  Let  others 
fancy  that  they  have  attained  an  important  end  for  a  dis- 
trict in  securing  a  transient  visit  from  the  great  and 
the  mighty — let  it  be  ours  to  go  through  the  land  pro- 
claiming, "  Prepare  ye  the  way  of  the  Lord,  make 
his  paths  straight.  Eepent  ye,  for  the  kingdom  of 
heaven,  and  the  king  of  heaven  himself,  are  at  hand." 
Oh,  how  much  does  a  nation  think  of  its  foreign  alli- 
ances— what  sacrifices  will  it  not  make  to  preserve 
them — and  what  applause  will  it  not  shower  on  the 
statesman  who  succeeds  honourably  in  drawing  closer 
the  bonds  which  unite  it  to  neighbouring  states.  But 
is  not  he  the  real  statesman  who  unites  his  country  to 
heaven — who  cultivates  for  it  an  alliance  with  the  King 
of  kings — who  draws  closer  the  golden  links  which  bind 
it  to  his  throne  ?  Let  this  be  our  aim — to  see  our 
land  in  league  with  heaven — converted  into  a  province 
of  the  Divine  empire — made  a  kingdom  of  our  God 
and  of  his  Christ — inhabited  by  men  who  have  become 
reconciled  to  God,  and  have  sworn  allegiance  to  the 
Prince  of  the  kings  of  the  earth.  Brethren,  let  our 
heart's  desire  and  prayer  to  God  for  them  be,  that  they 
may  be  saved ;  and,  then,  when  every  other  object 
shall  have  failed,  and  every  political  institution  have 
ceased  to  exist,  we  shall  discover  that  our  end  is  gain- 


62  CHRISTIAN    PATRIOTISM  : 

ed ;  that,  in  saving  their   souls,  we  have   secured  a 
good,  imperishable  and  eternal. 

III.  And  this  brings  us  to  the  third  proposition — sug- 
gested by  the  language  of  the  apostle — that  the  high- 
est order  of  instrumentality  we  can  employ  for  this 
end  includes  willing  self-denial  and  earnest  prayeY. 
We  think  there  is  reason  to  conclude — however  hum- 
bling the  view  may  be — that  if  a  people  could  be  found 
destitute  of  every  form  of  religion,  Christianity,  owing 
to  its  purity  and  spirituality,  would  be,  if  they  were 
left  to  themselves,  the  very  last'  form  which  they 
would  think  of  embracing.  And,  further,  that  if,  by 
some  cause  operating  upon  them  from  without,  the 
Gospel  were  to  be  introduced  among  them,  and  were 
even  to  awaken  among  them  a  desire  for  general  im- 
provement— we  believe  that,  if  left  to  themselves, 
they  would  try  every  thing — philosophy,  education, 
changes  of  law,  new  forms  of  government,  every  hu- 
man means  of  improvement — and  having  found  them 
all  fruitless,  would  begin  to  try  them  all  over  again, 
before  they  would  have  recourse  to  the  transforming 
power  of  the  Gospel.  And  further  still,  that  having 
been  led,  by  some  external  cause,  to  adopt  the  form  of 
Christianity,  we  believe  that  they  would  value  it  as  an 
instrument  of  civilization,  of  legislation,  of  morality, 
value  it  for  any  thing  rather  than  as  an  instrument  of 
salvation  :  that  even  if  they  came  to  regard  it  in  this 
light,  they  would  try  to  bring  it  to  bear  upon  the  peo- 
ple in  the  mass,  by  passing  laws  and  enforcing  gene- 
ral observances,  rather  than  by  addressing  it  to  the 
individual  man ;  and  that  even  if  they  came  to  this, 
they  would  address  themselves  to  every  part  of  his 
nature — to  his  body,  by  putting  it  into  the  posture  of 
devotion — to  his  judgment,  filling  it  with  truths  to  be 
merely  understood — to  his  memory,  storing  it  with 
truths  to  be  repeated  whether  understood  or  not — and 
would  be  quite  satisfied  if,  in  these  respects,  they  suc- 
ceeded, without  thinking  that,  if  the  soul  be  unsaved, 
the  man  is  lost.  And  does  not  this  humbling  view 
suggest  that  the  man  who  is  himself  spiritually  saved, 


A    SERMON.  63 

is  the  only  one  who  is  likely  to  employ  the  Gospel  ap- 
propriately for  the  salvation  of  others  ?  Yes,  but  it 
also  suggests  the  further  idea,  that  even  he,  though  he 
knows  that  salvation  involves  a  personal  change — a 
change  of  heart — and  though  he  desire  to  see  the 
change  pass  upon  all  around  him — will  employ  every 
other  allowable  means  for  gaining  the  end,  rather  than 
those  of  willing  self-denial  and  earnest  prayer.  And 
the  reason  is  clear — because  the  employment  of  these 
argues  a  high  degree  of  spirituality  of  mind,  and  the 
bulk  of  professing  Christians  are  content  with  a  low 
state  of  piety ;  a  piety  which  would  rather  contribute 
money  than  pray ;  rather  employ  others,  than  act 
itself;  rather  combine  self-indulgence  and  very  slen- 
der religious  success,  than  self-denial  and  the  greatest 
amount  of  good  they  can  think  of. 

And  yet  this  instrumentality,  though  the  last  and 
least  to  which  we  resort,  is,  we  repeat,  the  highest  we 
can  employ.  It  is  in  effect,  the  all  of  Christian  instru- 
mentality combined,  sublimated,  and  employed  to  the 
utmost.  Self-denial !  It  is  simply  Christian  consis- 
tency. It  is  the  Christian  who  has  been  bought  with  a 
price,  not  embezzling  his  Lord's  property.  It  is  the 
living  sacrifice  at  the  altar,  presenting  himself  and  all 
that  he  possesses  to  God.  It  is  the  faithful  servant 
with  his  loins  girt,  and  saying  to  his  Master,  "  What 
wilt  thou  have  me  to  do  ?"  It  is  the  sinner  saved, 
looking  at  the  cross,  till  his  eyes  fill  with  tears  of 
gratitude,  and  his  zeal  kindles  to  a  flame,  and  he  feels 
that,  whether  he  is  commanded  or  not,  he  cannot  live 
unto  himself,  and  grieves  that  the  consecration  of  his 
all  should  so  inadequately  express  his  sense  of  obliga- 
tion. Earnest  supplication  !  It  is  faith  passing  by  all 
secondary  means,  and  making  its  way  straight  to  God 
— putting  aside  every  human  hand,  and  going  at  once 
to  God — entering  the  presence  of  the  Eternal,  and 
making  its  appeal  to  his  throne.  By  self-denial,  the 
believer  is  devoting  all  his  own  resources  to  the  cause 
of  Christ ;  while,  by  prayer,  he  is  confessing  the  im- 
potence of  the  whole,  taking  hold  of  the   strength  of 


64  CHRISTIAN    PATRIOTISM  : 

God,  identifying  himself  with  Almighty  power.  Self- 
denial  and  earnest  prayer  combined,  form  an  order  of 
instrumentality  to  which  the  church  is  comparatively  a 
stranger — the  power  of  which  it  has  not  tried  on  any 
extensive  scale — and  yet  it  is  the  only  order  of  instru- 
mentality to  which  God  has  promised  unlimited  suc- 
cess, and  on  which  he  can  consistently  confer  it. 

Brethren,  may  not  this  be  the  one  great  lesson  which 
the  Head  of  the  church  is  about  practically  to  impress 
on  his  people  ?  .  It  is  well  for  us  that  he  does  not  delay 
his  blessing  until  our  instrumentality  is  as  perfect  as  it 
might  be — that  from  the  moment  we  begin  to  seek  the 
salvation  of  men,  he  begins  to  honour  the  attempt — 
and  that  in  proportion  as  we  grow  in  devotedness,  he 
graciously  augments  our  usefulness. 

But  the  time  arrives  when,  proceeding  even  at  this 
rate,  our  opportunities  of  usefulness  exceed  our  means  . 
of  improving  them — when  our  success  begins  to  be 
burdensome.  So  much  more  in  earnest  for  human 
salvation  is  God  than  we  are,  that  his  blessing  on  our 
most  defective  instrumentality  so  enlarges  our  field  of 
operation,  that  the  time  at  length  arrives  when  we  find  • 
ourselves  shut  up  to  earnest  prayer  and  willing  self- 
denial.  That  time,  we  think,  is  approaching  in  the 
history  of  most  of  our  great  religious  societies — has 
actually  come  in  the  history  of  this  society.  His  bless- 
ing on  what  you  have  done,  renders  it  necessary  that 
you  should  do  more.  His  blessing  on  your  past  instru- 
mentality, shuts  you  up  to  the  necessity  of  more  entire 
devotedness  and  of  more  earnest  prayer. 

IV.  Then  let  us  attend  to  some  of  the  reasons 
which  should  induce  this  devotedness ;  and  we  shall 
find,  fourthly,  that,  besides  the  great  general  motives 
for  seeking  the  salvation  of  our  countrymen  in  com- 
mon with  that  of  others,  some  of  the  special  reasons 
which  moved  the  Apostle,  should  equally  operate 
upon  us. 

1.  Now  let  me  ask,  in  earnestly  desiring  the  con- 
version of  his  countrymen,  was  he  not  yielding  to  the 
natural  promptings  of  sanctified  humanity !     Our  ob- 


A    SERMON.  65 

ligation  to  preach  the  Gospel  to  every  creature  is 
founded  partly  on  our  family  relation  to  eveiy  crea- 
ture ;  for  God  hath  made  "  of  one  blood  all  the  na- 
tions on  the  face  of  the  earth."  The  closer  our  rela- 
tionship, then,  to  any  part  of  the  human  family,  the 
more  specific  and  urgent  our  obligation  to  seek  their 
salvation.  So  far  from  violating  or  disregarding  any 
of  our  natural  ties,  the  Gospel  draws  them  closer, 
makes  them  sacred,  employs  them  for  the  highest  pur- 
poses, renders  it  impossible  for  us  to  look  on  our 
friends  and  relations  as  perishing,  without  yearning  to 
save  them.  My  friends,  the  inhabitants  of  your  own 
country  are  more  nearly  related  to  you  than  those  of 
any  other ;  only  yield  to  the  impulse  of  humanity, 
and  to  their  salvation  you  will  devote  yourselves  su- 
premely. 

2.  And,  in  thus  acting,  your  highest  relative  inter- 
ests would  be  found  to  coincide  with  your  duty.  The 
Apostle  had  ties  more  tender  even  than  those  of  coun- 
try ;  and  he  knew  that  the  welfare  of  those  whom  he 
most  ardently  loved  was  closely  bound  up  with  the 
spiritual  condition  of  his  nation  generally ;  and  would 
not  that  induce  him  to  desire  its  conversion  ?  Breth- 
ren, it  accords  with  the  government  of  God  to  deal 
with  a  nation  collectively — to  bless  it  or  to  punish  it 
collectively  in  this  world.  The  depraved  condition  of 
a  people  in  one  age  of  its  existence,  is  visited  with  its 
evil  consequences  in  a  subsequent  age.  The  spiritual 
state  of  Britain  in  the  present  age,  is  preparing  spirit- 
ual consequences  for  the  next  age.  As  you  now  sow, 
those  who  come  after  you  will  reap.  For  it  is  not 
possible  for  one  part  of  a  people,  any  more  than  of 
the  human  body,  to  suffer,  without  all  the  parts  suffer- 
ing with  it.  By  a  regard,  therefore,  to  the  welfare  of 
those  who  are  the  dearest  to  you — parts  of  yourselves 
— to  the  welfare  of  your  children's  children  to  the 
latest  posterity,  the  obligation  is  laid  on  you  to  minis- 
ter devotedly  to  the  spiritual  interests  of  your  country. 
As  you  could  not  hear  that  a  fatal  contagion  was  in- 
vading the  land,  and  sweeping  off  the  population, 
5 


66  CHRISTIAN  patriotism: 

without  feeling  that  your  own  family  were  endanger- 
ed, look  on  the  moral  contagion  which  rages  around 
you,  as  involving  the  entire  community,  and,  there- 
fore, those  whom  you  feel  for  most,  in  special  danger, 

3.  We  have  spoken  of  the  holy  patriotism  of  Christ 
— of  the  tears  which  he  shed  over  Jerusalem — and  of 
his  command,  that  "  repentance  and  remission  of  sins 
should  be  preached  in  his  name,  among  all  nations, 
beginning  at  Jerusalem.'^''  Yes,  no  sooner  did  he  find 
himself  in  a  capacity  to  bless,  than  he  began  with  bless- 
ing the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem.  While  their  eyes 
were  yet  gleaming  with  the  fire  of  triumphant  revenge, 
he  commissioned  his  servants  to  hasten  and  open  the 
charter  of  redemption  within  sight  of  Calvary.  And 
could  the  apostle  know  this  without  corresponding 
effect?  The  example  of  his  Lord  alone  would  have 
sufficed  ;  his  solemn  command  left  him  no  alternative. 
His  heart's  desire  and  prayer  to  God  for  Israel  was, 
that  they  might  be  saved. 

Brethren,  I  assume  not  for  Britain  the  same  specific 
relations  to  Christ  which  Israel  sustained.  But  if  there 
be  value  left  in  signs — if  any  meaning  in  providential 
events — then  Britain  has  long  been  the  Judea  of  the 
West.  That  we  are  not  favoured  for  our  own  sakes 
alone,  but  also  for  other  and  ulterior  designs,  we  must 
be  blind  not  to  perceive.  But  equally  blind  must  we 
be,  not  to  perceive  that  we  are  distinguished  by  God 
in  a  surpassing  degree.  Blessings,  compared  with 
which  the  sacred  contents  of  the  ark  were  insignificant, 
have  long  been  collected,  and  almost  deposited,  with  us. 
Privileges,  of  which  the  temple,  the  whole  theocracy, 
were  only  emblems,  have  long  been  dispensed  to  us  in 
rich  profusion.  "  He  hath  not  dealt  so  with  any  people." 
And  can  we  know  that  he  hath  thus  "  set  his  love  on 
us,"  without  falling  in  with  his  gracious  views,  and 
sympathizing  with  a  Society  whose  object  it  is  to  pro- 
mote them  ^  My  friends,  do  you  admire  the  devoted- 
ness — the  heroic  self-devotion  of  the  apostle,  in  affirm- 
ing that  he  could  wish  himself  accursed  from  Christ 
for  the  sake  of  his  people  ?     "  Ye  know  the  grace  of 


A    SERMON.  67 

our  Lord  Jesus  Christ," — he  actually  hecame  a  curse  for 
us — he  endured  and  exhausted  every  penal  curse  for 
man — took  our  place  in  the  universe — opened  his  bosom 
— and  welcomed  to  his  heart  the  stroke  which  man 
had  deserved.  And  now,  we  repeat,  the  Gospel  of 
his  salvation  has  long  been  given  to  Britain — not  ex- 
clusively indeed,  hut  pre-eminently^  in  our  possession — 
with  all  the  rich  blessings  which  come  in  its  train.  Oh, 
if  there  be  any  meaning  in  providential  arrangements, 
never  can  our  prayers  and  efforts  for  Britain's  salvation 
exceed  the  concern  which  he  has  manifested — is  still 
manifesting — for  its  entire  recovery  to  God. 

4.  And  this  reminds  us  of  another  motive.  When 
the  apostle  had  protested  his  readiness  to  suffer  for  his 
brethren,  why  think  you  did  ho  finish  the  sentence  by 
adding,  "  who  are  Israelites ;  to  whom  pertaineth  the 
adoption,  and  the  glory,  and  the  covenants,  and  the 
giving  of  the  law,  and  the  service  of  God,  and  the  pro- 
mises ?"  Partly,  doubtless,  to  show  his  profound  re- 
gard for  their  peculiar  privileges.  But  partly,  also,  to 
account  for  his  anxiety  for  their  salvation,  by  intimat- 
ing, that  in  proportion  to  the  value  of  these  external 
privileges,  was  their  responsibility  and  danger  if  they 
failed  of  the  grace  of  God. 

Look,  brethren,  at  your  fellow-countrymen  in  the 
same  light.  Think  of  their  superior  facilities  and  ex- 
ternal means  of  salvation — their  Sabbath  and  other 
schools  for  religious  instruction — their  places  for  the 
worship  of  God — the  Bible  completed,  translated,  and 
placed  before  them — the  glorious  Gospel  of  the  blessed 
God  statedly  proclaimed  by  twice  ten  thousand  tongues 
— privileges  which  might  well  awaken  the  idea  that  they 
are  adopted  in  the  stead  of  God's  ancient  people. 
But  if  such  their  advantages,  who  shall  estimate  their 
responsibility  ?  If  a  heathen  incurs  responsibility  by 
coming  within  even  the  distant  sound  of  the  Gospel — 
if  the  presence  of  a  single  missionary  in  a  heathen 
district  introduces  a  new  element  of  responsibility  into 
that  district,  where  is  the  arithmetic  which  shall  describe 
the  vast  responsibility  of  our  countrymen  ?     But  then, 


68  CHRISTIAN    PATRIOTISM  : 

if  such  their  advantages  and  responsibility,  what  is 
their  moral  condition  ?  I  will  not  refer  you  for  a  reply 
to  the  statistics  of  national  crime — to  crowded  jails  and 
penal  colonies.  I  will  not  refer  you  to  the  dense  pop- 
ulation of  our  cities — where  thousands  live  on  the 
vices  of  others,  and  thousands  more  are  training  up  as 
their  successors.  I  will  just  refer  you  to  that  part  of 
the  population  which  is  to  be  found  in  the  field  which 
this  Society  especially  occupies — -our  rural  districts. 
Would  you  see  ignorance  in  its  most  besotted  state  ? — 
you  must  repair  to  some  of  our  remote  villages.  Would 
you  see  intemperance  carried  to  beastly  stupidity  ? 
and  brutality  wantoning  in  the  infliction  of  animal  suf- 
fering ?  and  the  moral  and  reasoning  powers  all  but 
extinguished  ? — still  you  must  repair  to  some  of  our 
rural  districts.  Would  you  see  man's  nature  in  its 
most  unimpressable  and  unimprovable  state — in  a 
word,  would  you  see  heathenism  in  its  essence — in 
every  thing  but  its  accidental  forms  ? — then  must  you 
visit  our  retired  districts.  We  are  accustomed  to 
speak  of  ancient  Bethsaida  and  Chorazin  as  standards 
of  human  guilt.  But,  considering  our  pre-eminent  ad- 
vantages, and  the  prevailing  neglect  of  them,  every 
county  in  Britain  has  its  Chorazin  and  Bethsaida — 
equally  calling  for  a  "  woe  unto  thee  !"  We  speak 
of  Jerusalem  as  containing,  at  the  death  of  Christ,  a 
fearful  concentration  of  guilt ; — from  our  land  it  would 
not  be  difficult  to  collect  together  elements  of  depravity 
equal  to  those  which  Jerusalem  contained,  when  the 
sight  of  it  drew  from  the  eyes  of  Jesus  bitter  tears. 
We  are  apt  to  think  of  the  Jews  as,  at  that  time,  ex- 
posed to  a  fearful  doom,  and  therefore,  as  objects  for 
peculiar  compassion.  But,  when  Paul  was  ready  to 
lay  down  his  life  for  them,  say  what  element  was  there 
in  the  danger  which  they  had  incurred,  to  which  the 
unconverted  of  our  countrymen  are  not  equally  ex- 
posed .?  No,  brethren,  the  great  difference  is,  that  he 
looked  at  their  danger — thought  of  it  at  night — recall- 
ed it  in  the  morning — carried  the  subject  with  him 
through  the  day — followed  them  in  thought  to  the  bar 


A    SERMON.  69 

of  God — heard  their  fearful  doom — saw  them  perish- 
ing— saw  them  perish — and,  as  he  saw  them  sink,  felt 
that  he  could  have  plunged  after  them,  might  he  but 
pluck  the  firebrands  from  the  flames  !  Yes,  he  felt 
this  for  his  countrymen.  Oh,  for  more  of  his  self- 
sacrificing  spirit  in  the  behalf  of  ours ! 

5.  Associated  with  this  motive  is  another,  which 
adds,  if  possible,  to  its  force.  When  the  apostle 
breathes  out  his  heart's  desire  for  Israel's  salvation, 
hear  the  reason  which  he  assigns — "  For  I  bear  them 
record  that  they  have  a  zeal  of  God,  but  not  according 
to  knowledge ;  for  they,  being  ignorant  of  God's 
righteousness,  and  going  about  to  establish  their  own 
righteousness,  have  not  submitted  themselves  unto  the 
righteousness  of'  God."  Now,  this  accurately  de- 
scribes the  condition  of  numbers  in  our  own  coun- 
try. Could  you  take  a  moral  survey  of  the  people, 
you  would  find,  that  besides  the  actively  irreligious,  of 
whom  we  have  just  spoken,  there  are  a  considerable 
number,  especially  of  our  rural  population,  who  are 
ignorantly  reposing  for  eternity  on  a  ceremonial  right- 
eousness of  their  own — persons  who  look  on  anything 
more  than  the  form  of  religion,  as  madness  ;  on  any 
thing  less,  as  heathenism — a  class,  to  whom  salvation 
by  the  sacraments  is  a  doctrine  more  familiar  than  sal- 
vation by  the  cross — and  by  whom  Popery  itself,  if 
■disguised  by  another  name,  would  be  cordially  accept- 
ed and  zealously  defended.  But  in  that  class,  I  be- 
lieve, many  might  be  found  who  are  what  they  are,  ig- 
norantly— who  are  far  from  satisfied  with  their  state — 
who,  at  some  period  of  life,  have  heard  of  another  and 
a  better  way — and  who  ever  and  anon,  like  many  an 
inquiring  heathen,  grow  restless,  and  look  around  them 
for  a  guide  to  that  better  way — but  look  in  vain. 

Brethren,  were  we  assured  that  but  ten  such  per- 
sons existed  in  some  remote  heathen  region,  we  should 
be  justified  in  incurring  unlimited  expense  and  labour 
in  endeavouring  to  reach  their  case.  My  conviction 
is,  that  there  is  not  a  portion  of  Britain,  in  the  obscurer 
parts  of  which,  especially,  persons  of  this  class  are 


70  CHKISTIAN  patriotism: 

not  to  be  found  in  numbers,  which,  if  summed  up, 
would  amount  to  thousands — yes,  thousands,  whose 
case  can  be  reached  only  by  an  agency  which  will 
take  the  Gospel  to  their  doors — into  their  very  houses. 
And  can  we  recollect  that  persons  of  this  class  are  not 
in  China,  not  in  India,  not  at  the  ends  of  the  earth, 
but  close  to  us — our  countrymen,  without  arousing 
ourselves  to  do  more  for  their  recovery  to  God  ?  Go 
into  any  county  you  please,  and  draw  around  you  an 
imaginary  circle  of  ten  or  twenty  miles  in  diameter — 
and,  my  conviction  is,  that,  without  any  danger  of 
error,  you  might  say  to  yourself — "  Within  this  imagi- 
nary circle,  of  which  I  am  now  the  centre,  there  are 
souls  ignorant  of  God's  righteousness — souls  perishing 
literally  through  lack  of  knowledge^die^iiuXQ  of  the 
only  knowledge  which  can  lead  to  their  salvation." 
And  can  you  realise  this  picture  to  your  own  mind — 
can  you  think  of  those  souls  quitting  that  circle  to  ap- 
pear at  the  bar  of  God,  (I  will  not  suppose  that  you 
are  summoned  there,  at  the  same  moment,  to  meet 
them — but  even  setting  aside  that  solemn  thought,)  can 
you  think  of  them  as  quitting  that  circle  for  the  invisi- 
ble world — leaving  .  your  very  presence — departing 
from  under  your  eyes — in  an  agony  of  apprehension 
about  the  insufficiency  of  their  own  righteousness,  and 
yet  ignorant  of  a  better — casting  back  on  you,  from 
the  shores  of  that  untried  world,  upbraiding  looks,  be- 
cause you  cared  not  for  their  souls — can  you  think  of 
this  without  resolving  "  My  heart's  desire,  and  prayer 
to  God,  and  earnest  endeavour,  shall  be,  that  they  may 
be  saved  ?" 

6.  And,  finally,  we  might  urge  this  for  home^  on 
the  ground  of  the  advantage  which  would  accrue  from 
it  to  all  our  foreign  missions.  When  the  apostle 
yearned  for  Israel's  salvation,  did  he  not  often  picture 
them  to  his  mind,  think  you,  occupied,  like  himself,  as 
zealous  missionaries  of  the  cross  ?  "  For,"  said  he, 
"  if  the  casting  away  of  them  be  the  reconciling  of  the 
world,  what  shall  the  receiving  of  them  be  but  life 
from  the  dead  ?"     And  may  we  not  ask,  in  a  similar 


A   SERMON,  71 

Strain — If  Britain,  though  evangelized  only  in  a  very- 
partial  degree,  is  yet  the  centre  of  Christian  activity  to 
the  v^orld — what  would  it  have  been  had  that  evangel- 
ization been  general  ?  What  need  of  our  missionary 
operations  in  some  of  the  islands  of  the  southern  sea, 
had  our  naval  population  been  missionaries  of  good, 
instead  of  evil  ?  What  need  of  much  of  our  mis- 
sionary apparatus  in  India — what  need  of  our  colonial 
missions — had  our  people  gone  forth,  like  the  pilgrim- 
fathers  of  other  days,  to  erect  their  altar,  and  worship 
God,  wherever  their  lot  should  be  cast  ?  As  it  is,  our 
foreign  missions  are  now  indispensable,  if  it  be  only 
to  counteract  the  evil  which  our  countrymen  have 
everywhere  diffused.  What  need  of  our  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary Societies  to  be  in  danger  of  having  to  sound  a 
retreat  through  want  of  resources,  were  our  own 
country  evangelized  ?  Were  our  churches  at  home 
doubled,  our  resources  would  be  doubled  for  foreign 
labour. 

Think  not,  then,  that  the  interests  of  religion  at 
home  and  abroad  are  opposed  to  each  other;  that 
whatever  is  done  to  promote  the  one,  is  so  much  lost 
to  the  other.  Think  not  that  more  would  have  been 
done  for  home,  had  less  been  done  for  abroad — the 
reverse  would  have  been  the  fact.  Imagine  not  that 
if  a  portion  of  our  activity  were  now  withdrawn  from 
foreign  objects,  it  would  be  so  much  added  to  our  ac- 
tivity at  home  ;  most  certainly  would  such  a  step  tend 
to  arrest  the  entire  machinery  of  home  benevolence. 
So  far  from  thinking  that  too  much  is  done  for  distant 
objects,  we  urge  the  claims  of  home,  partly,  that  we 
may  be  able  to  do  more.  Yes,  our  duty  to  home,  in 
this  respect,  coincides  with  our  most  enlarged  desires 
for  other  lands.  For,  by  occupying  the  sphere  which 
is  immediately  around  us,  we  are  multiplying  our  agen- 
cies for  occupying  a  circle  beyond,  and  for  thus  ex- 
tending our  sphere  wider  and  wider,  till  the  whole  field 
of  usefulness  be  brought  under  cultivation. 

Brethren,   so  related  are  our  duties,  that  he  who 


72  CHRISTIAN    PATRIOTISM  : 

neglects  the  least  will  find  no  excuse  by  pleading  that 
he  was  attending  to  the  greatest ;  and  so  connected  are 
all  our  Christian  societies,  that  he  who  promotes  one 
at  the  expense  of  another,  inflicts  injury  on  them  all. 
The  example  of  our  blessed  Lord,  in  looking  down 
from  the  cross,  and  tenderly  providing  for  a  mother's 
comfort,  when  he  was  in  the  very  crisis  of  the  world's 
redemption,  shows  that  all  the  true  interests  of  hu- 
manity are  indivisible ;  and  that  all  duty  is  sacred  and 
one.  You  cannot,  therefore,  serve  your  Home  Mis- 
sions, without  indirectly  serving  your  Foreign  Missions. 
You  cannot  benefit  your  country  spiritually,  without 
instrumentally  benefiting  the  world.  Such  are  the 
political  and  commercial  relations  of  Britain,  and  so 
vast  the  extent  of  its  empire,  that,  for  evil  or  for  good, 
it  is  always  operating,  not  only  to  the  utmost  bounds  of 
the  civilized  world,  but  beyond,  through  barbarous 
climes,  to  the  very  ends  of  the  earth.  Come,  then, 
my  friends,  for  the  sake  of  the  worlds  attend  to  the 
spiritual  claims  of  home.  We  ask  you  not  to  with- 
draw your  sympathies  from  foreign  objects.  But  your 
fellow-countryman  is  lying  at  your  door — perishing  at 
your  threshold — and  all  we  ask  is,  that,  in  going  out 
to  relieve  some  distant  object,  you  will  not  step  over 
him,  and  leave  him  there  till  you  return.  Patriotism, 
philanthropy,  Christianity — all  unite  in  urging  you  to 
minister  at  once  to  his  wants — if  it  be  only  for  the  sake 
of  enabling  him  to  join  you  in  your  more  distant  enter- 
prize.  Now  the  supporters  of  the  Home  Missionary 
Society  are  acting  in  harmony  with  this  view.  It  has 
147  agents — occupying  153  principal  stations,  and  490 
OM^-stations — and  who  preach  in  about  650  towns,  vil- 
lages, and  hamlets,  in  thirty  four  counties.  Connected 
with  these  stations,  are  188  Sunday-schools,  containing 
12,000  children,  taught  by  1475  gratuitous  teachers. 
And,  during  the  past  year,  4000  copies  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures  have  been  distributed  by  the  agents,  and 
many  thousands  of  religious  tracts  circulated.  Would 
to  God  that  these  agencies  could  be  doubled — if  only 


A  SERMON.  73 

for  the  sake  of  our  foreign  activity — for,  sooner  or 
later,  they  could  not  fail  to  multiply  our  resources  for 
occupying  the  field  of  the  world. 

But,  independently  of  that  effect,  let  me,  once  for 
all,  recall  your  attention  to  the  fact,  that  enlightened 
patriotism  is  a  Christian  virtue — that  the  highest  order 
of  patriotism  is  that  which  leads  us  to  seek  the  salva- 
tion of  our  people — that  the  higher  order  of  instrumen- 
tality we  can  employ  for  that  end,  includes  self-denial 
and  fervent  prayer — and  that  the  same  reasons  which 
induced  the  apostle  to  employ  this  agency  for  his  people, 
exist  to  induce  us  to  employ  the  same  for  our  people. 
My  friends,  here  is  a  test  of  your  Christian  benevolence. 
If  you  are  indifferent  to  the  claims  of  home,  you  are 
convicting  yourself  of  insincerity  in  all  you  are  doing 
for  distant  objects  ;  for,  if  any  man  love  not  his  brother, 
whom  he  hath  seen,  how  can  he  sincerely  compassion- 
ate those  whom  he  hath  not  seen  ?  Now,  here  is  your 
brother.  Surely  the  suppliant  who  is  now  at  your  feet 
does  not  lose  his  claim  on  your  pity,  by  being  your 
brother  I  Surely  his  spiritual  nakedness,  poverty, 
and  wants,  are  not  the  less  affecting,  because  you  see 
them.  He  lies  wounded  and  bleeding  in  your  path — 
surely  you  will  not  pass  by  on  the  other  side,  to  pour 
your  oil  and  wine  into  wounds  which  you  never  saw. 
"  Is  there  no  balm  in  Gilead  ?  is  there  no  physician 
there  ?  why  then  is  not  the  health  of  the  daughter  of 
my  people  recovered  ?  "  The  daughter  of  our  people 
is  diseased,  and  requires  healing,  not  less  than  did  the 
daughter  of  Judah.  When,  at  length,  her  malady 
proved  incurable,  and  she  was  vanquished  by  the  iron 
hand  of  Rome — you  know  how  the  victor  represented, 
on  his  commemorative  medals,  the  virgin  daughter  of 
Sion — sittings  in  the  dust^  drooping  and  disconsolate^ 
at  the  foot  of  her  own  palm-tree.  You  know  how 
Africa  was,  but  lately,  pictured  ;.  and  the  touching  ap- 
peal which  the  sight  continued  to  make,  till  the  nation 
arose,  and  smote  off  his  chains — one  of  her  salle  sons 
kneeling^  manacled^  and,  with  imploring  eye,  exclaim- 
ing, "Am  I  not  a  man,  and  a  brother?"     And  does 


74  CHRISTIAN   PATRIOTISM  I    A    SERMON. 

Britain  admit  of  no  similar  appeal  to  the  eye  ?  They 
represent  her,  indeed,  seated  in  power,  armed  with  a 
trident,  and  attended  by  her  lion  ;  and  for  her  political 
condition,  these  symbols  may  do.  But,  for  her  spirit- 
ual state,  for  an  emblem  of  the  religious  condition  of 
millions  of  her  population,  these  signs  of  power  should 
be  all  removed,  and  she  should  be  seen  lying,  prostrate, 
on  the  steps  of  a  Christian  temple,  perishing  through 
lack  of  knowledge.  To  meet  the  spiritual  wants  of 
this  large  and  perishing  class,  the  Society  for  which  I 
now  plead  exists.  Is  it  your  heart's  desire  and  prayer 
to  God  for  them,  that  they  may  be  saved  ?  then,  help 
this  Society  to  extend  its  saving  operations. — Amen. 


IMPORTANCE  OF  AN  EDUCATED  MINISTRY: 
A  DISCOURSE 


DELIVERED  IN  GEOSVENOR  STREET  CHAPEL,  MANCHESTER, 

PREPARATORY     TO     THE     OPENING     OF     THE 

LANCASHIRE  INDEPENDENT  COLLEGE,* 

APRIL   25,  1843. 

Friends  and  Supporters  of  the  New  Independent 
College,  you  have  reached  an  important  point  in  a, 
most  important  undertaking.  Had  each  of  you  been 
occupied  in  building  a  house  for  himself — a  house  in 
which  it  was  likely  that  you  and  generations  of  your 
posterity  would  live  and  die — you  could  not  contem- 
plate taking  possession  on  the  morrow  without  musing 
thoughtfully  on  the  probable  consequences  of  the 
change.  Had  you  been  engaged  in  erecting  a  house 
for  God,  you  could  not  have  had  its  public  dedication 
in  prospect  for  the  morrow,  without  feeling  that  solemn 
interests  were  involved  in  the  event — interests  arising 
out  of  all  the  past,  and  associated  with  all  the  future. 
But  there  is  a  sense  in  which  the  opening  of  a  College 
for  "  men  of  God"  designed  for  the  Christian  Ministry, 
is  more  important  still ;  for  if  the  Church  is  instru- 
mentally  to  move  the  world,  and  the  ministry  is  instru- 
mentally  to  move  the  church,  an  Institution  in  which 
that  ministry,  or  a  portion  of  that  ministry,  is  to  be 
trained  for  service,  must  be  regarded  as  imparting  the 
primary  impulse  to  the  whole.  Such  an  institution 
you  have  long  contemplated  ;  and,  to-morrow,  "  having 

*  The  Dissenting  community  of  Great  Britain  have  always  been  the 
advocates  of  a  learned  ministry,  and  have  furnished  their  full  proportion 
of  eminent  biblical  scholars.    The  Lancashire  College,  however,  in  ita 


76     IMPORTANCE  OF  AN  EDUCATED  MINISTRY  : 

obtained  help  of  God,"  you  hope  to  receive  the  answer 
to  many  an  earnest  prayer,  and  to  reap  the  first-fruits 
of  many  an  hour  of  unknown  anxiety  and  toil,  in 
opening  the  noble  erection  in  which  such  an  institu- 
tion is  to  exist.  Numbers  who  have  watched  your 
movements  with  sympathetic  interest  are  now  men- 
tally offering  you  their  cordial  congratulations,  and  are 
ardently  breathing  the  desire,  "  God  be  merciful  to 
them,  and  bless  them,  and  cause  his  face -to  shine  upon 
them." 

In  anticipation  of  to-morrow's  engagements  we  have 
now  assembled.  And  as  a  topic  appropriate  to  the 
occasion — a  topic  of  your  own  selection — you  are  to 
be  addressed  on  "the  importance  of  an  educated 
Ministry."  Not,  indeed,  that  you  can  be  supposed  to 
entertain  any  misgivings  respecting  its  importance. 
On  the  contrary,  by  the  erection  of  your  college,  you 
have  reared  a  monumental  evidence  of  your  deep 
sense  of  its  vital  importance  ;  and  your  object  will  be 
gained  by  the  present  discourse,  I  presume,  only  in 
proportion  as  it  serves  to  expound  the  grounds  of  your 
own  convictions,  and  to  enforce  them  on  the  attention 
of  other  minds.  In  pursuance  of  this  design,  I  pro- 
pose to  explain  the  proposition  that  the  Christian  min- 
istry, should  be  educated ;  to  state  some  of  the  grounds 
of  the  importance  of  such  education  ;  and  then  to  point 
out  some  of  the  obligations  resulting  from  it. 

I.     First,  we  have   to  explain  what  we  mean  when 

buildings,  and  its  prospects  stands  unrivalled  in  England.  The  institu- 
tion itself  has  long  existed  at  Blackburn,  but  the  large  increase  of  Con- 
gregational Dissenters  in  the  district,  and  other  circumstances  rendered 
its  removal  to  the  populous  town  of  Manchester  eminently  desirable. 
The  building,  which  is  of  the  gothic  order  of  about  the  fifteenth  cen- 
tury, contains  an  entrance,  tower,  corridor,  library,  lecture  rooms,  din- 
ing room,  residences  for  the  professors,  and  fifty  two  comfortable  dor- 
mitories for  the  students.  The  cost  of  the  whole,  with  seven  acres  oC 
land  by  which  it  is  surrounded,  was  about  j£25,000  or  nearly  125,000 
dollars.  The  president  is  the  learned  and  excellent  Dr.  Vaughan,  assist- 
ed by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Davison,  as  professor  of  Biblical  Criticism,  the  Rev. 
F.  W.  Newman,  M.  A.,  professor  of  the  learned  Languages,  the  Rev. 
H.  Rogers,  M.  A.,  professor  of  English  Literature,  and  others. — Ed. 


A   DISCOURSE.  77 

we  speak  of  an  educated  ministry :  and,  while  doing 
this,  we  shall,  if  I  mistake  not,  be  incidentally  fur- 
nishing a  sufficient  reply  to  the  principal  objections  of 
those  who  not  only  deny  its  importance,  but  even  dep- 
recate it  as  an  evil.  For,  you  can  hardly  need  to  be 
informed,  that  in  all  ages  of  the  church  such  persons 
have  existed.  As  early  as  the  second  century  of  the. 
Christian  era,  a  party  arose,  who,  confounding  the  use 
of  learning  with  its  abuse,  denied  its  compatibility 
with  the  spirit  of  piety.  In  the  third  century  the  con- 
troversy raged  with  considerable  violence  ;  and  al- 
though, owing  to  the  efforts  of  the  Alexandrian  school, 
especially  of  Clement  and  Origen,*  the  cause  of  letters 
and  philosophy  gradually  triumphed,  its  opponents 
have  not  wanted  for  reinforcements  in  any  subsequent 
age.  Fortunately,  as  most  of  their  prejudices  origi- 
nate in  ignorance,  however  well-meaning,  they  furnish 
unintentionally  the  most  apposite  proof  of  the  value  of 
that  knowledge  which  they  condemn  ;  since  an  expla- 
nation of  the  subject  seems  all  that  is  necessary  to 
silence  their  complaints. 

1.  In  offering  such  an  explanation,  we  may  remark, 
first,  that,  in  advocating  the  education  of  the  ministry, 
we  presuppose  the  existence  of  genuine  piety  in  all  who 
receive  it.  For,  we  cannot  forget  that,  while  the  pri- 
vate Christian  is  to  be  an  example  to  the  world,  the 
Christian  minister  is  to  be  "  an  ensample  to  the  flock" 
— a  model  of  models.     His  central  station  and  official 


*  The  allegorizing  exegesis  of  these  fathers,  especially  of  Origen,  was 
not  owing  to  their  learning.  The  writings  of  the  Alexandrian  Jews  had, 
ages  before,  exhibited  similar  principles  of  interpretation.  Prior  to  this, 
again,  and  partially  accounting  for  it,  was  the  prevalence  of  the  Pla- 
tonic philosophy  in  Egypt.  But  the  origin  of  the  allegorizing  tendency 
is  to  be  looked  for  in  a  source  deeper  still,  and  one  which  is  quite  irres- 
pective of  learning — in  the  subtlety,  activity,  and  love  of  the  mystical, 
which  have  ever  characterised  the  oriental  mind.  Indeed,  If  a  sound 
education  has  any  attraction  for  the  allegorical  mode  of  interpretation, 
it  is  the  attraction  of  repulsion.  And  hence  it  will  be  found  that,  among 
ourselves,  the  metaphorical  fancies  of  a  Gill  and  a  Keach  are  most  accep- 
table to  the  uneducated. 


78  IMPORTANCE  OF  AN  EDUCATED  MINISTRY  : 

character  invest  him  with  influences  which  render  his 
every  movement  an  object  of  interest  to  superior 
beings,  for  it  deeply  implicates  the  everlasting  welfare 
of  all  around  .him.  How  important  that  the  whole  of 
that  influence  should  be  eminently  holy  ;  and  how  can 
that  be,  but  by  issuing  from  a  character  eminently 
.pious  ?  On  this  account,  we  call  for  evidences  of  the 
personal  piety  of  every  one  seeking  admission  to  our 
collegiate  institutions ;  we  take  the  opinion  of  his  pastor, 
and  of  others  likely  to  form  a  correct  judgment  of  his 
character,  and  we  subject  the  whole  to  the  test  of  a 
patient  and  anxious  examination. 

If,  then,  it  be  objected,  that  some  parties  have  made 
learning  a  substitute  for  piety  in  the  ministry,  and  that 
others  have  appeared  to  expect  that  piety  would  follow 
as  the  effect  of  learning,  we  need  not  retort,  in  the 
language  of  Jerome,  that  there  are  those  who  err  as 
egregiously  on  the  other  side  in  "  mistaking  ignorance 
for  sanctity  ;"  we  content  ourselves  with  simply  re- 
marking that  we  have  no  sympathy  with  the  classes 
described.  But,  perhaps,  it  will  be  alleged  that  though 
we  may  and  do  require  piety  in  the  Christian  student, 
we  endanger  his  humility  and  his  sense  of  personal 
insufficiency.  We  reply,  first,  in  the  spirit  of  Dr. 
Johnson's  answer  to  a  similar  objection,  that  education 
can  minister  to  vanity  only  as  long  as  it  is  regarded  as 
a  distinction  ;  let  education  be  universal,  and  the  dis- 
tinction arising  from  it  will  cease.  Or,  secondly,  we 
might  remind  the  objector  that,  if  the  possible  abuse 
of  a  thing  is  to  lead  to  its  disuse,  we  shall  be  adopt- 
ing a  principle  which  has  originated  the  most  fatal 
errors.  For  example,  the  conjugal  state  has  its  dan- 
gers ;  on  his  own  principle,  therefore,  he  cannot  com- 
plain of  that  church  which  requires  the  celibacy  of  its 
clergy.  Every  sense  of  the  body  may  prove  an  inlet 
to  evil ;  shall  it  therefore  be  mutilated  ?  or  shall  piety 
retire  from  social  life  to  the  monastery,  the  hermitage, 
or  the  desert  ?  One  of  these  alternatives,  common 
consistency  requires  him  to  adopt.  Or,  thirdly,  we 
might  reply,  that  whatever  the  dangers  of  knowledge 


A    DISCOURSE.  79 

may  be,  we  have  yet  to  learn  the  peculiar  virtues  of 
ignorance.  We  never  found  it  to  be  a  certain  security 
against  pride.  We  have  known  it  to  be  more  vain  of 
some  scrap  of  information  on  which  it  had  acciden- 
tally stumbled,  than  we  ever  knew  learning  to  be  of 
all  its  stores.  And,  when  raised  to  a  station  of  in- 
fluence, we  have  ever  found  the  uneducated  man  to  be 
in  much  greater  danger  of  pride,  than  the  educated. 
And,  then,  we  may  add,  in  proof  of  the  perfect  com- 
patibility of  learning  and  piety,  that  the  most  distin- 
guished member  of  the  Jewish  Church,  though  "learned 
in  all  the  wisdom  of  the  Egyptians,"  was  the  meekest 
of  men  ;  and  that  the  most  distinguished  member  of 
the  Christian  Church,  though  "  brought  up  at  the  feet 
of  Gamaliel,"  was  the  chief  of  the  apostles,  and  a 
pattern  of  humility. 

2.  Again  ;  that  education  of  the  rising  ministry 
whose  importance  we  advocate,  has  mental  develop^ 
ment  and  discipline  for  its  object^  as  well  as  the  attain- 
ment of  actual  knowledge.  These  objects  are  distinct. 
Indeed,  it  is  possible  so  to  communicate  knowledge  as 
to  enfeeble  and  pervert  the  mind  which  receives  it. 
In  other  words,  it  is  possible  to  be  learned  without 
being  educated.  Instances  of  this  truth  are  to  be  found 
in  the  "  endless  genealogies,"  the  "  strifes  about 
words,"  and  the  "  vain  janglings,"  against  which  the 
Apostle  cautions  Timothy — in  the  scholastic  sophistry 
of  the  twelfth  and  thirteenth  centuries — and,  if  I  do 
not  greatly  err,  in  the  writings  of  the  Tractarians  and 
Traditionists  of  the  present  day.  And  to  these 
instances  may  be  added,  strange  as  it  may  seem,  the 
preaching  of  many  of  those  who  object  to  an  educated 
ministry  ;  and  whose  discourses  abound  in  verbal  quib- 
bles, laborious  trifling,  ingenious  mistakes,  and  attempts 
at  second-hand  learning  in  a  small  way.  All  these 
may  be  regarded  as  exemplifying  what  may  be  called 
the  learning  of  the  uneducated — the  learning  which 
narrows  the  mind  instead  of  enlarging  it ;  which  leaves 
it  ignorant  of  great  principles,  and  unable  to  find  them. 

Now  if  this  be  the  evil  of  which  the  objector  to  an 


80  IMPORTANCE  OF  AN  EDUCATED  MINISTRY  I 

educated  ministry  complains,  he  should  be  informed 
that  he  has  mis-named  it ;  and  that  the  education  we 
contemplate  would  prove  its  powerful  and  certain 
corrective.  Our  object  is, — not  to  furnish  the  student 
in  divinity  with  the  high  scholastic  attainments  ;  this 
the  brevity  of  his  term  of  study  forbids  ; — not  to  store 
his  memory  with  facts  and  general  information ;  mere 
scraps  and  driblets  of  miscellaneous  knowledge  are  all 
that  the  most  diligent  collector  of  facts  could  take 
away  with  him  ; — but  to  furnish  him  with  that  mental 
training  which  is  necessary  to  the  intelligent  and  useful 
discharge  of  the  gospel  ministry.  Knowledge,  indeed, 
he  will  be  acquiring  during  the  entire  process— knowl- 
edge of  the  most  useful  kind ; — but  that  which  is 
more  important  still,  is,  that  he  will  obtain  the  power 
of  using  it,  and  of  augmenting  it  indefinitely.  His 
capital  in  actual  knowledge  may  be  comparatively 
small ;  but  give  him  the  right  mental  habits,  and  "  his 
pound  will  soon  gain  ten  pounds"  in  addition.  Show 
him  the  importance  of  great  principles,  and  give  him  the 
power  of  dealing  with  them  ;  and  you  have  done  more 
for  him  than  as  if  you  had  deposited  an  encyclopsedia 
of  knowledge  in  his  memory.  For  he  who  knows  the 
principle  of  a  truth,  has  in  effect  mastered  all  the  facts 
and  phenomena  belonging  to  it.  He  who  knows  the 
principle  of  a  truth,  like  the  angel  in  the  midst  of  the 
sun,  stands  in  its  centre  and  sees  to  its  circumference. 
3.  Further :  that  education  of  the  ministry  which 
we  advocate  is  meant  to  correspond  with  the  state  of 
education  generally.  If  there  are  some  classes  of  the 
community,  for  example,  still  comparatively  unac- 
quainted with  even  the  rudiments  of  knowledge,  we 
would  not  insist  that  their  ministers  should  receive  the 
highest  educational  advantages.  And  as  such  classes 
do  exist,  we  rejoice  in  the  existence  of  some  theologi- 
cal institutions  in  which  men  of  God  are  qualified,  by 
a  comparatively  elementary  course  of  training,  for  the 
spheres  they  are  likely  to  occupy.  But  for  the  very 
same  reason  that  we  would  observe  this  correspondence 
in  their  case,  we  would  insist  on  a  similar  proportion 


A    DISCOURSE.  81 

between  the  education  of  the  ministry,  and  that  of  the 
public  generally. 

All  education  is  comparative.  So  true  is  this,  that 
the  light  possessed  by  one  age  is  regarded  as  twilight, 
as  darkness,  by  a  subsequent  age.  Now  the  objector 
to  an  educated  ministry  should  know,  that  if  his  chosen 
teacher  can  barely  read  and  write,  even  that  would 
have  been  formerly  regarded  as  a  very  rare  and  learn- 
ed accomplishment.  We  are,  therefore,  justified  in 
saying  to  him.  You  surely  do  not  deem  the  power  of 
reading,  and  writing,  and  speaking  with  propriety,  a 
superfluous  attainment.  You  would  not  think  of  going 
in  search  of  a  man  who  knew  nothing  of  this  attain- 
ment, and  of  adopting  him  as  your  teacher  on  account 
of  his  superior  ignorance.  But,  if  you  would  not, 
you  should  remember  that  there  was  a  time  when  the 
simple  qualification  of  reading,  writing,  and  speaking 
correctly,  was  considered  to  be  open  to  all  the  objec- 
tions which  you  now  bring  against  the  education  of 
the  ministry  ;  for  that  was  the  education  of  the  time. 
And  as  you  now  smile  at  the  idea  that  any  one 
could  have  ever  objected  to  the  simple  education 
of  that  time,  so,  rely  on  it,  the  time  will  come  when 
your  objections  to  the  education  of  the  present  day 
will  be  viewed  in  the  same  light.  You  should  be 
reminded  also,  that  if  you  do  not  object  to  the  power 
of  reading,  writing,  and  accurate  speaking,  as  a  min- 
isterial qualification,  you  are  admitting  the  whole  of 
the  principle  for  which  we  contend.  You  are  allow- 
ing that  instruction  to  some  extent  is  necessary.  You 
are  conceding  that  there  ought  to  be  some  correspond- 
ence between  the  state  of  education  generally,  and 
the  instruction  of  the  ministry.  The  only  question  at 
issue  between  us  is,  not  one  of  principle,  but  of  de- 
gree— namely,  the  extent  to  which  education  is  to  be 
afforded.  And  this,  we  repeat,  should  depend  partly 
on  the  state  of  knowledge  in  the  general  community. 

4.  The  ministerial  education  which  we   advocate  is 
that  which   yields    to    Scriptural   theology)    the    chief 
place ;  and  which  treats  every  other  branch  of  study 
6 


82     IMPORTANCE  OF  AN  EDUCATED  MINISTRY  I 

as  auxiliary  to  it.  Now  the  most  uneducated  minis- 
ter of  the  present  day  has  unconsciously  adopted  the 
same  principle  ;  for  he  is  largely  indebted  to  the  learn- 
ed labours  of  his  predecessors.  However  slender  his 
mental  resources  may  be,  he  obtains  them  only  by 
availing  himself  of  the  toils  of  others.  If  he  can  but 
just  read  his  Bible,  and  some  favourite  religious  author, 
he  is  indolently  enjoying  the  results  of  prodigious  la- 
bour and  abundant  learning.  Let  him  think  what  has 
been  necessary  in  order  to  put  that  translation  of  the 
Bible  into  his  hands — what  watching,  and  weariness, 
and  travail — what  studying  of  languages,  recension  of 
copies,  and  collation  of  manuscripts — what  division  of 
labour,  and  years  of  persevering  application  !  Surely 
it  is  not  for  one  who  is  thus  living  on  the  learning  and 
labour  of  others,  to  decry  education  ;  for  the  drone  to 
depreciate  the  process  by  which  the  truth,  sweeter 
than  honey  or  the  honey -comb,  has  been  hived  and 
made  ready  for  his  use  ! 

If,  however,  he  still  urges  that  the  Bible  intimates 
that  a  knowledge  of  Scripture  alone  is  sufficient  to 
furnish  the  man  of  God  for  his  office  ;  we  cheerfully 
admit  the  same.  But  then  comes  the  question,  what 
is  to  be  the  amount  of  that  Scriptural  knowledge  ; — 
shall  it  be  the  minimum  or  the  maximum  ?  We  are 
anxious  to  put  all  the  honour  on  the  Bible  we  can — to 
extract  from  it,  if  possible,  all  that  it  contains — to 
make  the  most  of  it  as  God's  instrument  for  the  sal- 
vation of  the  world.  "  Our  great  divines,"  says  Cole- 
ridge, "  were  not  ashamed  of  the  learned  discipline 
to  which  they  had  submitted  their  minds  under  Aris- 
totle and  Tully,  but  brought  the  purified  products  as 
sacrificial  gifts  to  Christ ;  they  baptized  the  logic  and 
manly  rhetoric  of  ancient  Greece  ;  they  made  incur- 
sions into  every  province  of  learning,  and  returned 
laden  with  the  choicest  plunder ;  the  scheme  of  the 
philosopher,  the  narrative  of  the  historian,  the  vision 
of  the  poet,  were  all  rendered  subservient  to  the  one 
predominant  object  of  their  researches ;  the  gold  of 
idolatrous  shrines  was  transmuted  into  a  purer  ore  by 


A    DISCOURSE.  83 

their  spiritual  alchymy."  And  the  education  we  ad- 
vocate for  the  man  of  God  is  such,  and  such  only,  as 
shall  be  made  subservient  to  his  office  as  an  expositor 
of  the  Bible ;  subservient,  either  by  strengthening  and 
preparing  his  mind  as  the  instrument  to  be  employed 
on  it ;  or  by  furnishing  him  with  the  means  of  de- 
veloping, illustrating,  and  communicating  its  truths. 

5.  Another  explanatory  remark  we  would  offer  is, 
that  the  education  we  advocate  is  meant  to  be  held  in 
entire  suhordination  to  the  agency  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
We  believe  that  his  agency  is  present  in  the  intelligent 
and  faithful  ministry  of  the  Gospel ; — and  that  it  is 
essential  to  the  success  of  that  ministry  ;  and  therefore 
would  we  have  the  education  of  the  man  of  God  of  a 
tendency  to  harmonize  his  mind  with  that  divine  agen- 
cy, and  to  subordinate  to  it,  not  his  knowledge  merely, 
but  all  the  powers  of  his  renewed  nature.  So  that  if 
an  opponent  to  an  educated  ministry  object,  that  Paul 
renounced  all  dependence  on  learning  and  eloquence ; 
we  reply,  that  we  would  do  so  likewise.  Like  him, 
we  would  have  both,  and,  like  him,  would  use  both, 
but,  like  him,  would  depend  on  neither.  We  would 
not  depend  even  on  alms-giving,  nor  on  prayer  itself; 
and  yet  we  would  cultivate  both  as  a  duty  and  a  privi- 
lege. If  he  allege,  however,  and  perhaps  this  is  his 
great  objection — if  he  allege  that  because  the  efficien- 
cy of  the  ministry  depends  ultimately  on  the  influence 
of  the  Spirit,  therefore  education  for  the  ministry  is 
unnecessary ;  we  reply,  that  his  objection  rests  on  an 
entirely  false  assumption.  It  strangely  supposes  that 
because  God  can  do  a  thing  in  a  certain  manner,  there- 
fore, he  will  so  accomplish  it.  Entirely  losing  sight 
of  those  wise  arrangements  in  nature,  providence,  and 
grace,  by  which  means  and  ends  are  linked  together, 
it  makes  the  power  of  God  the  only  rule  of  his  conduct. 
Most  cheerfully  do  we  admit  that,  before  the  great 
constitution  of  nature  and  grace  was  actually  set  up,  it 
rested  entirely  with  the  sovereign  will  of  God  whether 
human  instrumentality  should  be  employed  or  not  in 
anything.  But  ihe  question  with  which  we  have  now 
to  do,  is  not  what  might  have  been,  but  what  is — not 


84  IMPORTANCE  OF  AN  EDUCATED  MINISTRY. 

one  of  possihility  but  of  fact.  From  the  moment  of 
man's  creation  it  became  evident  that  the  constitution 
which  the  Infinite  Mind  had  seen  fit  actually  to  adopt, 
was  one  which  required  man's  instrumentality.  The 
constitution  of  grace  adopted  the  laws  of  nature,  and 
employs  them.  And  man's  wisdom  consists  in  plac- 
ing  himself  in  harmony  with  these  laTVs  ;  for  God  has 
been  pleased  to  bring  himself  under  the  gracious  obli- 
gation of  a  promise  to  connect  his  blessing  with  obe- 
dience to  these  laws. 

Now  your  error,  we  might  say  to  the  objector,  your 
error  consists  in  supposing  that  because  there  was  a 
period  when  God  could,  hypothetically  speaking,  have 
adopted  a  constitution  of  things  which  should  have 
dispensed  with  human  instrumentality,  therefore  you 
are  at  liberty  to  act  as  if  he  had  really  adopted  such  a 
plan  ;  and  in  supposing  that  because  he  still  retains  all 
his  original  power,  and  may  choose  occasionally  to 
employ  it  out  of  the  ordinary  and  appointed  way, 
therefore  you  are  at  liberty  to  take  his  sovereign  ex- 
ceptions as  your  only  rule  of  calculation  and  conduct. 
How  inconsiderate,  not  to  say  daring,  your  conduct ! 
He  could  teach  his  servants  the  knowledge  of  the  alpha- 
bet ;  but  you  would  not  have  had  your  minister  wait, 
until  that  knowledge  was  supernaturally  imparted  to  him. 
He  can  make  the  naked  rock,  or  the  sea-shore  sand, 
spontaneously  yield  corn ;  but,  we  presume,  you  look 
for  it  rather  in  the  adjoining  field,  nor  do  you  expect  to 
find  it  even  there  without  cultivation.  He  can  make  the 
knowledge  of  a  single  evangelical  truth  the  means  of 
salvation ;  he  has  even  often  done  it ;  but  you  would 
not  on  that  account  limit  your  knowledge  of  the  Bible 
to  a  single  text.  You  do  not  make  what  He  can  do, 
the  rule  of  what  he  will  do,  in  any  other  department 
of  the  Divine  conduct — why  do  you  look  for  it  here  ? 
Besides,  do  you  not  see  that  if  this  rule  is  to  be  adopted, 
it  bears  equally  against  an  uneducated  ministry  ;  that 
if — ^to  use  the  language  of  South — "  if  God  hath  no 
need  of  our  learning,  he  can  have  still  less  of  your 
ignorance  ;"  that,  absolutely  considered,  he  has  no  need 
even  of  your  existence. 


A   DISCOURSE.  85 

And  surely  you  will  not  adopt  this  rule  of  conduct 
under  the  notion  of  honouring  God.  You  surely  do 
not  expect  that  he  will  distinguish  you  in  the  last  day 
as  having  pre-eminently  proved  your  concern  for  the 
progress  of  his  gospel,  by  having  been  pre-eminently 
unconcerned  about  the  qualifications  of  the  instruments 
you  employed.  Rely  on  it,  true  humility  on  this  sub- . 
ject  consists,  not  in  neglecting  the  attainment  of  knowl- 
edge, but  in  estimating  it  at  its  proper  worth ;  in  feeling, 
like  Newton,  after  sounding  and  navigating  the  ocean 
■of  science,  as  if  one  were  only  a  child,  sporting  on 
its  margin,  and  collecting  its  shells.  And  the  Spirit  pf 
God  is  honoured,  not  by  our  coming  into  his  presence 
-empty-handed,  but  by  imitating  the  Apostle  Paul,  and, 
after  laying  out  all  our  resources  in  his  service,  feeling 
that  our  sufficiency  is  of  God. 

Let  it  be  borne  in  mind,  then,  that  the  ministerial 
education  we  advocate  presupposes  personal  piety  ;  has 
mental  development  and  discipline  for  its  special  ob- 
ject ;  is  meant  to  correspond  with  the  state  of  educa- 
tion generally ;  yields  to  Scriptural  theology  the  chief 
place  ;  and  places  itself  in  entire  subordination  to  the 
agency  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  Now  I  am  not  aware  of 
any  plausible  objection  to  the  education  of  the  ministry, 
which  one  or  other  of  these  €xplanatory  remarks  does 
not  legitimately  answer ;  and,  with  the  subject  thus 
explained,  we  are  prepared  to  proceed,  secondly,  to 
•  assign  some  of  the  grounds  of  our  conviction  of  its 
importance. 

II.  1.  And,  first,  let  me  remark  that  the  desirable- 
ness of  ministerial  education  is  predetermined  by  the 
natural  activity  of  the  human  mind^  and  by  the  tendency 
of  the  Gospel  to  excite  that  activity.  A  variety  of 
circumstances  may  concur  to  repress  the  active  tenden- 
cies of  the  mind ;  but  let  the  Gospel  obtain  admission 
into  it,  and,  from  that  moment,  the  most  torpid  speci- 
men of  humanity  is  quickened  into  a  new  mental  as 
well  as  moral  life.  Even  the  mind  which  was  pre- 
viously alive  and  vigorous,  becomes  concious  of  a  new 
impulse  to  activity,  and  of  a  new  sphere  in  which  to 


86  IMPORTANCE  OF  AN  EDUCATED  MINIS! icx  . 

spend  it.  In  finding  a  God,  he  finds  the  centre  of  all 
things ;  and  henceforth  the  tendency  of  his  mind  is 
ever  to  harmonize  the  discordant,  to  arrange  the  dis- 
placed, and  to  assign  to  every  thing  its  right  position  in 
the  great  circle  which  surrounds  the  Deity.  In  finding 
"  the  truth,"  he  finds  an  infallible  standard  by  which 
every  thing  is  to  be  tested  ;  henceforth  he  would  fain 
try  every  pretension,  weigh  every  claim,  by  its  relation 
to  this  standard,  and  estimate  every  thing  accordingly. 
And  as  the  volume  of  nature  is  written  in  illuminated 
characters  and  pictured  forms,  purposely  to  awaken 
early  curiosity,  and  to  excite  the  inquiry,  "  what 
meaneth  this  .^"  so  the  volume  of  inspiration  is  con- 
structed expressly  to  stimulate  the  activity  of  the  re- 
newed mind.  Yes,  the  Bible  is  distinguished  from 
every  other  book  professedly  divine — from  the  Shasters 
of  the  Brahmin,  and  the  Koran  of  Mahomet — by  its 
earnest  commendations  of  knowledge,  and  by  its  power 
of  exciting  a  thirst  for  it.  It  at  once  creates  light,  and 
courts  it.  Not  only  does  it  extol  knowledge  as  a  glory, 
but  commands  us  to  seek  for  it  as  a  most  sacred  duty. 
But  if  Christianity  thus  awakens  the  mental  and  moral  ac- 
tivity of  man,  and  if  the  education  we  advocate  consists 
in  sustaining  that  activity  and  directing  it  aright,  the 
desirableness  of  such  education  is  no  longer  a  doubtful 
question.  It  is  an  adjudged  case  ;  a  settled  question  ; 
settled,  by  no  arbitration  of  ours,  but  by  the  predeter- 
minate  counsel  of  Him  who  gave  to  our  mental  con- 
stitution its  activity,  and  to  the  Bible  the  power  of  arous- 
ing that  activity.  Unless,  therefore,  you  do  violence 
to  the  mind,  and  repress  its  activity,  education  to  some 
extent  becomes  a  religious  necessity.  And  if  educa- 
tion be  thus  desirable  for  every  inquiring  Christian 
mind,  how  much  more  important  must  it  be  for  the  man 
of  God,  who,  in  his  public  ministry,  is,  in  effect,  to  aid 
in  directing  the  religious  education  of  others. 

2.  The  importance  of  the  education  we  advocate 
arises,  secondly,  from  the  nature  and  contents  of  the 
Bible ^  and  from  the  relation  which  the  Christian 
minister  sustains  to  it.    Revealed  theology  comes  to  us 


A    DISCOURSE.  87  • 

in  a  volume  consisting  of  a  number  of  ancient  books  in 
the  Hebrew  and  Greek  languages.  Is  it  any  thing  more 
than  an  act  of  ordinary  propriety  for  its  professed  ex- 
pounder to  endeavour  to  make  himself  acquainted  with 
all  that  it  contains  ?  then,  must  he  be  able  to  read  it  in 
the  original  tongues,  and  to  avail  himself  of  the  ever- 
increasing  treasures  of  sacred  philology.  The  allusive 
and  pictorial  style  of  the  sacred  Scriptures  renders  in- 
dispensable a  knowledge  of  geography  and  chronology, 
of  oriental  customs,  institutions,  and  imagery.  Nor  can 
the  professed  expounder  of  the  v^ord  of  God  be  safely 
or  consistently  left  in  ignorance  of  the  history  of 
Biblical  interpretation;  showing,  as  it  -does,  that  the 
doctrinal  theology  of  the  church  has  always  stood  in 
close  relationship  to  its  hermeneutics. 

The  Bible  insists  on  the  doctrine  of  human  depravity 
and  ruin.  The  history  of  the  ancient  world  is  one  un- 
broken record  of  facts  illustrative  of  this  doctrine.  An 
acquaintance  with  that  history  gives  a  depth  to  the 
meaning  of  the  Apostle  in  that  sketch  of  the  monster-man 
in  his  first  chapter  to  the  Romans,  which  no  one  igno- 
rant of  the  ancient  world  can  ever  perceive  ;  shows 
that  man,  so  far  from  ameliorating  his  moral  condition, 
exhibited  an  invariable  tendency  to  become  worse  and 
worse  ;  that  the  highest  point  of  the  world's  civilization 
was  the  lowest  point  of  its  morality ;  that  so  far  from 
reason  or  philosophy  leading  men  to  God,  the  religion 
which  it  constructed  and  decorated  for  them  uniformly 
proved  their  greatest  curse  ;  that  Christianity  came  into 
the  midst  of  the  world's  systems,  with  all  the  freshness 
and  originality  of  a  divine  conception  direct  from 
Heaven  ;  that  the  character  of  Christ  took  the  world 
by  surprise,  as  the  pure  and  perfect  incarnation  of  in- 
finite excellence  ;  that  his  advent  was  almost  as  neces- 
sary to  save  the  world  from  temporal,  as  from  eternal 
ruin.  And  shall  all  this  remain  unknown  to  the  man 
of  God  ?  Give  him  an  opportunity  of  acquiring  the 
learned  languages  ;  and  you  furnish  him  with  a  key 
to  the  knowledge  of  the  whole. 

The  study  of  language,  indeed,  has  a  value   of  its 


88  IMPORTANCE  OF  'AN  EDUCATED  MINISTRY: 

own.  When  pursued  into  its  philosophy,  it  is  both  a 
mental  discipline,  an  invigorating  logical  exercise,  and 
is  the  study  of  mind  itself.  And  on  this  independent 
ground  alone,  even  were  it  devoid  of  all  other  advan- 
tage, we  should  be  justified  in  urging  the  cultivation  of 
the  study.  But  when  it  is  remembered  that  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  Hebrew,  Greek,  and  Latin  languages,  be- 
sides giving  the  student  access  to  the  original  Scrip- 
tures, opens  to  him  the  temples  of  ancient  philosophy 
and  worship,  enabling  him  to  see  for  himself  the  ne- 
cessity, the  evidence,  and  the  influence  of  Divine  Rev- 
elation ;  places  before  him  the  writings  of  the  Greek 
and  Latin  fathers — that  armoury  of  the  Traditionists — 
with  the  power  of  extracting  the  useful,  and  of  reject- 
ing the  vile  ;  that  it  enables  him  to  consult  the  valua- 
ble, the  invaluable  theological  treatises  to  be  found  in 
the  Latin  works  of  foreign  divines  who  have  flourish- 
ed since  the  Reformation  ;  and  that  these  are  only 
some  of  its  advantages — who  does  not  feel  the  great 
importance  of  linguistic  studies  for  the  future  ex- 
pounder of  the  word  of  God  ? 

The  Bible  abounds  with  prophecies  relative  to  the 
monarchies  of  the  ancient  world,  and  to  the  church  of 
God.  These  prophecies  were  recorded,  of  course, 
that,  when  they  came  to  pass,  we  might  believe. 
Many  of  them  have  come  to  pass ;  and  the  question 
arises,  shall  their  fulfilment  be  known  ?  Shall  this 
part  of  the  temple  of  Truth  be  shut  up  and  useless  ; 
or  shall  it  be  opened,  admired,  and  worshipped  in  ? 
Here  is  an  important  branch  of  evidence  for  the  truth 
of  Divine  Revelation ;  shall  it  lie  waste  and  useless  ? 
shall  God  have  spoken  in  vain  ?  or  shall  his  voice  be 
heard  ?  But  if  the  man  of  God  is  to  hear  it,  he  must 
know  something  of  ancient  and  modern  history,  that^ 
by  comparing  the  prophecy  with  the  event,  he  may 
perceive  its  completion. 

The  church  of  God  also  has  a  history  of  its  own. 
That  part  of  its  history  recorded  in  the  Bible  is  written 
for  our  instruction.  But  the  record  of  its  history  did 
not  end  with  what  is  there   written :  it  has  been  con- 


A    DISCOURSE.  89 

tinually  carried  on  in  laws  and  monuments,  medals 
and  inscriptions,  memorials  and  documents  of  all  kinds ; 
and  is  replete  with  interest  and  instruction  down  to  the 
present  moment.  Shall  the  whote  exist  in  vain  ? 
Shall  the  past  heresies  and  errors  of  the  church  afford 
no  warning  ?  shall  its  sins  and  apostacies  excite  no 
penitence  ?  its  divine  preservation  in  the  flames  of  per- 
secution, no  gratitude  ?  its  gradual  corruption,  no  illus- 
tration of  the  New  Testament  prophecies  concerning 
"  the  man  of  sin  ?"  Shall  its  reformation  excite  no 
sense  of  obligation  ?  nor  the  divine  interpositions  for 
its  deliverances,  its  purification,  and  enlargement,  no 
trust  and  zeal  for  the  future  ?  But  all  this — if  it  is  to 
be  turned  to  a  profitable  account — supposes  a  knowl- 
edge of  ecclesiastical  history. 

To  say  that  natural  science  may  be  made  highly  . 
subservient  to  Christian  theology,  is  only  to  say,  in 
other  words,  that  the  God  of  nature  is  also  the  God  of 
grace.  Nature,  with  all  her  myriad  voices,  is  ever 
lecturing  on  the  existence,  the  providence,  and  the 
agency  of  God.  All  that  has  ever  been  written  on  the 
subject,  from  the  writings  of  Aristotle  to  the  Bridge- 
water  Treatises,  is  only  a  comment  on  the  sublime 
address  of  the  Deity  himself  in  the  concluding  portion 
of  the  book  of  Job.  We  believe,  indeed,  that  all 
nature  and  providence  are  in  strict  analogy  to  religion 
— that  all  the  works  and  ways  of  God  are  his  own  ex- 
position of  his  word.  What  an  important  use  has 
Butler  made  of  this  idea  in  his  well-known  Analogy ! 
And  we  believe  that  hereafter  it  will  be  seen,  that. the 
universe  was  only  a  vast  temple  with  the  cross  standing 
in  the  centre,  and  that  to  that  centre  every  object  and 
event  was  related  and  subordinated ;  that  it  never 
moved,  but  all  things  fell  into  its  train  ;  never  stood, 
but  they  all  bowed  down  before  it ;  never  spoke,  but 
they  all  echoed  its  voice ;  and  that  the  sight  when 
beheld  in  the  light  of  eternity,  will  fill  all  heaven  with 
adoration.  But  we  would  have  the  preacher  of  the 
cross  to  see  something  of  it  now  ;  and  hence  we  would 
have  him  to  be  so  far  acquainted  with  the  constitution 


90  IMPORTANCE  OF  AN  EDUCATED  MINISTRY  : 

and  course  of  nature  as  to  feel  the  eminence  on  which 
he  stands,  and  to  be  able,  as  he  looks  down  from  that 
eminence,  to  point  out,  with  holy  triumph,  how  all 
things  are  doing  homage  to  the  Gospel  now. 

3.  The  importance  of  the  education  we  advocate 
appears,  thirdly,  from  the  official  relation  which  the 
minister  sustains  to  the  mind  of  his  flock ^  as  the  ex- 
pounder  of  the  Bihle^  and  the  enforcer  of  its  truths. 
We  have  just  seen  the  importance  of  his  possessing  a 
certain  kind  and  amount  of  knowledge  ;  now  we  have 
to  regard  his  qualifications  for  imparting  that  knowl- 
edge to  others.  In  his  relation  to  the  Bible,  on  the  one 
side,  he  may  be  perfect ;  but  in  vain  will  be  all  his 
Biblical  acquisitions,  unless,  in  harmony  with  his  rela- 
tion to  the  minds  of  his  people,  on  the  other  side,  he 
has  the  power  of  clearly  and  efficiently  communicating 
his  knowledge. 

For  example :  as  the  Christian  minister  has  to  ad- 
dress a  mixed  audience  repeatedly  every  week,  it  is 
obviously  important  that  he  should  be  acquainted  with 
the  rules  and  the  capabilities  of  the  language  in  which 
he  addresses  them.  To  deny  this,  would  be  to  affirm, 
in  effect,  that  the  most  unintelligible  jargon  which  folly 
ever  uttered,  was  as  well  adapted  for  religious  useful- 
ness, as  the  reasoning  of  an  Edwards,  or  the  eloquence 
of  a  Whiteiield. 

Again  ;  considering  how  desultory  and  vagrant  the 
early  mental  habits  of  many  of  our  students  must  have 
been ;  and  how  indispensable  a  power  of  patient,  con- 
secutive, and  concentrated  thinking  is,  not  only  to  the 
pursuit  of  knowledge,  but  to  the  arrangement  and  em- 
ployment of  it  when  attained,  we  cannot  but  regard 
that  study  as  beyond  all  price  which  at  once  corrects 
that  parent  evil,  and  confers  this  master  power.  Such 
a  tendency  we  believe  the  pure  mathematics  preemi- 
nently to  possess.  "  In  these,"  says  Lord  Bacon,  "  I 
can  report  no  deficience,  except  it  be  that  men  do  not 
sufficiently  understand  their  excellent  use,  in  that  they 
do  remedy  and  cure  many  defects  in  the  wit  and  fac- 
ulties intellectual.     For,  if  the  wit  be  too  dull,  they 


A   DISCOURS:^.  91 

sharpen  it ;  if  too  wandering,  they  ^x  it ;  if  too  inhe- 
rent in  the  sense,  they  abstract  it."  And  why  are 
such  studies  so  favourable  to  intellectual  vigour? 
Simply  because,  by  descending  to  the  foundations  of 
truth,  they  require  the  whole  mind  in  perfect  abstrac- 
tion to  descend  along  with  it ;  by  tracing  the  relations 
of  truth,  they  exercise  the  faculty  of  comparison,  and 
the  power  of  reasoning ;  by  exacting  definitions,  they 
teach  precision  ;  by  dealing  with  principles,  they  make 
us  feel  that  truth — all  truth — is  a  most  substantial  and 
solemn  thing — a  thing  to  die  for ;  and  by  pointing  to 
its  grand  results,  they  lead  to  careful  calculation  of 
consequences,  and  to  far-sighted  and  comprehensive 
views. 

But  besides  this  mental  discipline,  and  this  acquaint- 
ance with  the  powers  of  the  language  which  he  em- 
ploys, ought  not  the  future  minister  to  know  something 
of  the  intellectual  and  moral  constitution  of  the  minds 
on  which  he  is  to  operate  ?  There  are  but  two  sub- 
stances in  the  universe — matter,  and  spirit.  If  he  had 
to  work  in  matter,  he  would  be  expected  to  know 
something  of  its  properties.  Is  spirit  so  much  more 
simple  in  its  manifestations,  and  so  much  more  yield- 
ing to  the  touch,  that  ignorance  can  deal  with  it  as  ad- 
vantageously as  knowledge  ?  Vast  and  varied  as  are 
the  phenomena  of  the  material  universe,  the  mind  is 
made  to  respond  to  every  part  and  property — made  to 
respond  to  the  phenomena  of  other  worlds,  and  nobler 
systems ;  and  the  word  of  God,  like  a  piece  of  heav- 
enly music,  is  set  for,  and  adapted  to,  the  whole  of 
man's  complex  nature  ;  shall  the  hand  which  is  weekly 
to  essay  the  mighty  instrument  know  nothing  of  its 
stops  and  keys  ?  If  he  is  not  to  confound  emotion 
with  principle,  and  impulse  with  habit ;  if  he  is  not  to 
mistake  the  natural  instincts  for  virtues,  nor  the  disin- 
terested affections  for  selfish  passions ;  if  human 
responsibility  and  divine  sovereignty  are  not  to  oppose 
and  neutralize  each  other ;  if  the  pathology  of  the 
deceitful  heart  is  to  be  skilfully  treated,  and  a  partial 
alleviation  of  threatening  symptoms  is  not  to  be  mis- 


92  IMPORTANCE  OF  AN  EDUCATED  MINISTRY  I 

taken  for  a  perfect  cure,  then  must  the  man  of  God 
obtain  an  insight  into  the  mental  and  moral  philosophy 
of  human  nature. 

Nor  must  he  be  left  ignorant  of  the  right  methods  of 
placing  himself  in  felt  contact  with  other  minds.  Who 
has  not  often  admired  the  versatility  of  the  Apostle 
Paul  in  this  respect !  As  the  Christian  philosopher  of 
Mars'  Hill,  you  would  hardly  have  recognized  him  for 
the  same  man  as  the  ardent  preacher  of  the  Thessalo- 
nian  synagogue,  where  he  had  been  showing,  from  the 
Scriptures,  that  Jesus  is  the  Christ:  and  how  differ- 
ent again  from  the  strain  of  the  philosopher  and  the 
preacher,  is  the  method  of  the  same  man,  when  as  the 
dignified  apologist  and  champion  of  the  Christian  faith, 
he  makes  a  Felix  tremble,  and  an  Agrippa  "  almost  a 
Christian."  And  is  there  nothing  in  this  example 
worthy  of  imitation  ?  Ought  not  the  Christian  advo- 
cate of  the  present  day  to  understand  the  principles  of 
argumentation — or  Logic  as  an  art — for  the  purpose  of 
informing  and  convincing  the  judgment ;  of  persua- 
sion— or  Rhetoric — for  the  purpose  of  moving  the 
passions  ;  of  the  evidence  of  testimony — to  induce  the 
right  degree . of  respect  for  authority,  and  no  more.? 
For  example  ;  owing  to  the  influence  of  vicious 
causes,  some  men  are  led  to  question  the  claims  of 
the  Bible.  God  has  graciously  supplied  a  variety  of 
evidence — prophetic  and  miraculous,  moral  and  histori- 
cal— expressly  adapted  for  the  conviction  of  such 
men.  But  this  very  evidence  may  be  so  exhibited,  and 
often  has  been,  as  to  excite  their  ridicule  and  coAfirm 
their  unbelief.  Is  it  not  important  that  those  who  pro- 
fess to  exhibit  and  enforce  it,  should  themselves  see 
its  connection,  feel  its  convincing  reasonableness,  and 
be  acquainted  with  the  most  useful  modes  of  its  appli- 
cation ?  Hence,  we  claim  for  the  man  of  God,  who 
is  placed,  among  other  things,  for  "  the  defence  of  the 
Gospel,"  an  acquaintance  with  the  philosophy  of  evi- 
dence. 

4.  But  the  Christian  minister  is  not  related  to  his 
particular   church   merely  : — the   importance    of   the 


A   DISCOURSE.  ^  ,  93 

education  we  advocate  will  appear  if  you  consider, 
fourthly,  his  relation  to  the  age  in  which  he  lives. 
The  office  of  the  ministry  will  be  generally  found  to 
include  three  classes — men  behind  their  day  ;  men  he- 
fore  their  day  ;  and  men  of  their  day.  Those  behind 
their  day  are  always  preaching  to  a  former  age  ;  are 
conscious  of  alarm  at  every  onward  movement ;  and 
feel  as  little  sympathy  with  their  times  as  their  times 
feel  with  them.  Those  who  are  before  their  day  are 
generally  but  few  in  number ;  nor  is  it  perhaps  desirable 
that  they  should  be  numerous ;  though  the  office  they 
fill  is  something  like  that  of  the  ancient  prophet — 
pointing  to  the  future,  and  preparing  the  Church  for 
its  arrival.  Standing  on  a  loftier  eminence  than  their 
contemporaries,  their  eye  sweeps  an  ampler  horizon  ; 
and,  though  the  distant  speck,  no  larger  than  a  man's 
hand,  enables  them  to  speak  of  subjects  which  sound 
strange  to  the  multitude,  their  voice  never  ceases  to 
echo  in  the  Church,  correcting  its  views,  animating  its 
activity,  and  enlarging  its  expectations. 

The  men  of  their  day  are  those  who,  marking  its  pe- 
culiarities, and  falling  in  with  its  movements,  accelerate 
its  progress  towards  a  better  state  of  things.  A  consid- 
erable number  of  such  the  Church  contains  at  present. 
They  know,  for  instance,  that  it  is  their  duty  to  assist 
in  enlightening  and  directing  public  opinion ;  and, 
marking  the  mighty  influence  of  the  press  for  this 
end,  they  contribute  what  they  can  to  the  moral 
and  religious  literature  of  the  day.  Would  that 
the  number  of  such  were  greater ;  and  that  your 
College  may  help  to  increase  them  !  Is  the  education 
of  the  masses  becoming  "  the  question  of  questions  ?" 
Aware  how  little  the  science  is  understood,  and  how 
powerful  an  engine  it  may  be  made  for  evil  or  for  good, 
they  are  sensitively  alive  to  the  mode  of  its  applica- 
tion ;  but  this,  of  course,  pre-supposes,  to  a  certain 
extent,  their  own  education.  Are  they  placed  for  the 
defence  of  the  Gospel  ?  then,  they  need  to  know  that 
Popery,  on  the  one  hand,  is  no  longer,  in  its  outward 
policy  and  tactics,  the  Popery  of  the  sixteenth  century  ; 


94  IMPORTANCE  OF  AN  EDUCATED  MINISTRY  : 

and  that  infidelity,  on  the  other,  is  no  longer  the  infi- 
dehty  of  the  century  after ;  but  a  practical  infidelity, 
with  utilitarian  science  for  its  God,  and  the  deifi^cation 
of  man  for  its  end ;  and  they  need  skilfully  to  select 
and  employ  their  weapons  accordingly.  Are  they  to 
shew  themselves  the  philanthropists  of  the  day  ?  then, 
if  many  around  them  are  seeking,  from  sincere  but 
mistaken  motives,  to  benefit  the  world  by  human 
expedients  alone,  they,  so  far  from  contenting 
themselves  with  merely  decrying  such  expedi- 
ents, must  seek  to  surpass  them  by  the  strenuous 
application  of  God's  remedy.  If  other  sections  of  the 
church  than  that  to  which  they  belong  are  abroad  in 
the  field  of  conflict,  they  are  to  mark  their  movements, 
not  to  envy,  but  to  emulate  their  activity,  and  to  share 
in  their  success.  If  the  world  of  Paganism  is  crying 
for  instruction  and  spiritual  help,  they  should  know 
something  of  the  places  to  be  occupied,  and  of  the 
facilities  for  taking  possession.  And  as  the  demand  on 
the  resources  of  the  Church  goes  on  increasing,  they 
should  be  prepared  to  bring  forth  the  strong  reasons  of 
the  Gospel  for  entire  self-consecration.  And  in  thus 
saying  that  a  ministry  to  be  efiective  must  be  adapted 
to  its  age,  and  that  this  supposes  education,  what  are 
we  saying  after  all,  but  that  God  is  conducting  the 
affairs  of  his  kingdom  on  a  plan — that  in  every  age 
that  plan  advances — that  his  ministers  are  to  mark  that 
advance  and  to  fall  in  with  it ;  and  that  in  proportion 
as  they  adjust  their  movements  to  his — link  themselves 
on  to  his  plans,  and  keep  pace  with  his  progress, 
they  move  with  the  force  of  omnipotence,  simply  by 
moving  in  a  line,  and  in  harmony  with  it. 

5.  The  importance  of  the  education  we  advocate 
will  appear  if  you  consider,  next,  that  a  firm  and 
enlightened  confidence  in  the  sufficiency  of  the  Gospel^ 
and  in  its  ultimate  and  universal  triumph^  is  an  essen- 
tial element  of  an  effective  ministry.  Our  last  par- 
ticular contemplated  the  minister  in  his  relation  to 
the  present ;  here,  we  regard  him  rather  as  related  to 
the  future.      A  conflict  is  before  him — a  conflict  of 


A    DISCOURSE.  95 

opinion,  not  only  with  foes  without  the  pale  of  the 
visible  church,  but  with  foes  within.  Shall  he  advance 
to  it  timidly,  or  full  of  heart  and  hope  ?  Leave  him 
in  doubt  respecting  the  sufficiency  of  the  Gospel  as  a 
remedy  for  the  world's  misery,  and  you  impart  feeble- 
ness to  his  ministry,  and  indifference  to  the  diffusion 
of  the  truth ;  you  dispose  him  to  seek  for  aid  from 
that  very  world  it  is  appointed  instrumentally  to  save ; 
you  fill  his  mind  with  alarm  at  every  new  test  to 
which  the  discoveries  of  science  may  subject  the  Gos- 
pel ;  and  thus  you  invite  some  modern  Celsus  to  repeat 
one  of  the  oldest  charges  alleged  against  it,  that  it 
fears  the  light  of  science ;  and  you  encourage  the 
attacks  of  a  world  which  it  was  intended  to  lead  in 
glorious  triumph.  But  let  him  see  the  homage  which 
the  truth  has  invariably  received  from  science  ;  let 
him  see  how  the  comparative  study  of  languages, 
which  was  at  one  time  deemed  inimical  to  the  Mosaic 
history  of  the  dispersion,  is  now  tending  to  corrobo- 
rate that  history,  and  causing  men,  in  this  respect, 
"  with  one  mind  and  one  mouth  to  glorify  God ;"  how 
the  further  the  physiology  of  man  has  been  examined, 
the  more  evident  has  become  the  common  parentage 
of  the  human  race  ;  how  monumental  history,  once 
summoned  from  the  cavern  temples  and  tombs  of  India 
and  Egypt  to  contradict  the  Mosaic  chronology,  has 
shamed  its  advocates,  and  confessed  itself  of  compara- 
tively modern  date ;  how,  when  the  famed  zodiacs 
were  brought  from  Egypt,  and  Astronomy  itself  was 
supposed  to  be  enlisted  against  the  Bible,  they  turned 
out  to  be  mere  monuments  of  astrological  folly,  and 
the  very  "  stars  in  their  courses  fought  against"  the 
infidel  attempt;  and  how,  when  Geology  was  invoked 
to  the  conflict  with  the  cosmogony  of  Moses,  "  the 
earth  literally  disclosed  her  dead" — the  fossil  remains 
of  successive  creations — proclaiming  the  fact  that 
miracles,  so  far  from  being  impossible,  have  ever 
belonged  to  the  course  and  constitution  of  nature, 
viewed  on  a  comprehensive  scale  ; — let  the  student  of 
Revelation  know  these  facts,  and,  like  the  servant  of 


96     IMPORTANCE  OF  AN  EDUCATED  MINISTRY  : 

the  prophet,  his  eyes  will  be  opened  to  behold  that  the 
object  of  his  solicitude  is  surrounded  as  with  horses 
and  chariots  of  fire.  Let  him  know  that  the  believers 
in  Divine  Revelation  have  never  had  to  engage  in  its 
defence,  but  they  have  returned  from  the  conflict  laden 
with  fresh  spoil ;  that  many,  once  known  as  its  bitter 
foes,  abandoning  the  arms  wherein  they  trusted,  have 
swelled  the  ranks  of  its  enlightened  friends ;  that, 
however  threatening  the  aspect  of  a  discovery  on  its 
first  appearance,  sooner  or  later  it  has  uniformly  given 
in  its  adhesion  to  the  claims  of  Christianity,  and  has 
inscribed  its  name  on  the  mountain  monument  of  her 
evidences ;  that  Archaeology  bringing  its  medals  and 
inscriptions  in  profusion,  and  Literature  its  rolls,  and 
documents,  and  stores  of  critical  science,  have  poured 
them  like  gold,  and  frankincense,  and  myrrh,  at  her 
feet : — and  he  will  see  that  everything  has  "  turned 
out  rather  for  the  furtherance  of  the  Gospel." 

Would  you  augment  his  confidence  in  it  still  fur- 
ther !  Shew  him  how  perfectly  it  is  adapted  to  the 
nature  of  man,  and  to  the  progress  of  society — how 
full  it  is  of  principles ;  how  thickly  sown  with  the 
seeds  of  things  ;  how  suggestive  and  fertile  of  good  ; 
so  that  no  truly  benevolent  society  or  eflbrt  is  known 
to  us,  however  original  and  novel  it  at  first  appeared, 
the  principle  of  which  the  Bible  had  not  anticipated, 
and  been  always  enforcing.  And,  convinced  of  this, 
will  he  not  cherish  the  assurance  that  many  an  un- 
thought  of  agency  for  good  lies  slumbering  yet  in  its 
hallowed  page  ^ — -that  many  a  verse,  familiar  in  ap- 
pearance as  the  humble  pebble  which  encloses  a  pre- 
cious gem,  conceals  the  type  and  principle  of  future 
agencies  destined  to  scatter  their  blessings  over  the 
earth  ? — and  that  every  such  agency  is,  in  the  hand  of 
God,  as  certain  of  fulfilling  its  course,  and  answering 
its  end,  as  if  it  came  visibly  accredited  with  the  seal 
of  omnipotence  ;  that  we  ourselves  are  not  borne 
through  the  regions  of  space  by  virtue  of  our  union 
with  the  globe  we  inhabit  more  certainly,  than  such 
instrumentality  is  destined  to  succeed  by  virtue  of  its 


A    DISCOURSE.  97 

union  with  that  Divine  plan  which  is  ever  in  progress — 
ever  moving  steadily  and  majestically  towards  the 
high  throne  of  God,  and  bearing  the  world  along  with 
it.  An  enlightened  confidence  in  the  Divine  adapta- 
tion and  sufficiency  of  the  Gospel  will  render  the  man 
of  God  independent  of  every  other  aid — thoroughly 
furnished  for  every  emergency  and  every  duty  ;  while 
the  firm  persuasion  of  its  ultimate  triumph  will  impart 
an  ardour  to  his  activity,  and  a  moral  dignity  to  his  on- 
ward step,  eminently  conducive,  through  God^  to  the 
efficiency  of  his  labours. 

6.  With  our  views  of  the  importance  of  an  educated 
ministry  thus  sustained,  are  w^e  not  warranted  to  expect, 
sixthly,  that  its  importance  will  he  home  out  hy  a  re- 
ference to  history^  ancient  and  modern^  sacred  and 
ecclesiastical  1  And,  here,  need  I  remind  you  that 
Moses,  "  God's  first  pen,"  as  Lord  Bacon  calls  him,  and 
the  instrumental  founder  of  the  Jewish  economy,  was 
rich  in  all  the  lore  of  Egypt ;  and  that  from  the  time 
of  Samuel,  with  only  one  exception,  so  far  as  we 
know, — that  of  Amos — the  prophets  and  great  public 
teachers  of  the  people  were  taken  by  God  from  "  the 
schools  of  the  prophets,"  where  they  had  been  taught 
the  learning  of  the  country,  and  of  the  day  ?  Descend- 
ing to  the  opening  of  the  Christian  economy,  need  I 
remind  you  that  the  Apostles,  after  enjoying  for  three 
years  the  instructions  of  the  Great  Teacher  himself, 
were  then  made  learned  by  a  miracle  ? — that  he  who 
was  last  called — the  most  useful  of  them  all,  and  who 
filled  the  Roman  empire  with  the  sound  of  salvation — 
was  the  scholar  and  philosopher  Paul  ? — and  that  he, 
in  condemning,  as  he  did,  a  false  philosophy,  was  in 
effect  pronouncing  a  commendation  of  the  true  ?  Need 
I  refer  to  the  high  estimate  in  which  education  was 
held  by  the  ancient  fathers  of  the  Church,  by  remind- 
ing you  of  the  fact  that  they  deprecated  the  edict  of 
the  emperor  Julian — forbidding  Christians  to  lecture  in 
the  public  schools  of  science  and  literature — as  more 
destructive  to  the  Christian  faith  than  all  the  sanguinary 
persecutions  inflicted  by  his  predecessors }  And  why 
7 


98  IMPORTANCE  OF  AN  EDUCATED  MINISTRY  I 

did  that  philosopher  of  persecution  adopt  such  a  mea- 
sure— but  because  he  well  knew  the  wounds  which 
learning,  in  the  hands  of  the  Christian  apologists,  had 
inflicted  on  Paganism ;  and  that,  as  Waddington  re- 
marks, it  was  comparatively  useless  to  oppress  the 
Christians  by  bodily  coercion,  or  even  by  civil  degrada- 
tion, unless  he  could  at  the  same  time  degrade  their 
minds  by  ignorance. 

The  time,  alas,  arrived,  when  they  began  to  choose 
that  ignorance  for  themselves.  At  the  close  of  the 
sixth  century,  Gregory  the  Great  rejected  from  the 
service  of  religion  that  learning  of  which  he  himself 
was  destitute.  How  appropriate  that  the  man  who 
first  authoritatively  extinguished  the  light  of  secular 
knowledge  should  have  been  the  first  potentate  in  the 
new  kingdom  of  popish  darkness ;  for  he  it  was  who, 
finding  the  various  elements  of  that  great  system  of 
imposture  ready  to  his  hand,  organized  them  into  that 
gigantic  structure  of  evil  which  for  so  many  ages  stood 
erect  with  its  foot  on  the  neck  of  the  civilized  world. 
How  suggestive  the  fact  that  he  who  said,  in  effect, 
"  let  there  be  mental  darkness,"  and  he  who  said,  "  let 
the  man  of  sin  arise  and  triumph,"  should  have  been 
one  and  the  same  individual ! 

Let  it  not  be  supposed,  indeed,  that  we  attach  any 
spiritual  value  to  mere  knowledge.  We  are  even  free 
to  admit  that  Germany,  the  nation  perhaps  the  most 
profoundly  learned,  has  long  been  the  most  prolific  of 
infidelity.  But  much  even  of  that  scepticism  is  only 
the  natural  reaction  of  that  mental  darkness  and  depres- 
sion in  which  ignorance  so  long  detained  the  nations. 
Yes,  ignorance  has  had  her  millenium ;  a  long  and 
dreary  period,  during  which  not  merely  learning  be- 
came extinct,  but  almost  the  curiosity  and  desire  to 
learn  ;  the  Bible  became  a  book  comparatively  lost  and 
unknown ;  and  the  feeble  glimmering  of  knowledge 
which  remained  in  the  hands  of  a  few  was  employed, 
not  to  enlighten  the  people,  but  to  delude  ;  and  proved 
sufficient  to  hold  the  enfeebled  mind  of  Christendom 
thine   most  servile  subjugation. 


A   DISCOURSE.  99 

With  what  signal  effect  the  weapon  of  sanctified 
l-earning  may  be  wielded,  let  the  history  of  the  Reforma- 
tion from  that  fearful  condition  of  the  Church  attest. 
Would  you  know  the  opinion  of  the  Reformers  them- 
selves on  the  subject  ?  "  If  we  lose  the  learned  lan- 
guages by  our  neglect,"  said  Luther,  "  we  shall  lose 
the  Gospel."  "  An  unlearned  theology,"  said  Melanc- 
thon,  "  is  an  Iliad  of  evils  ;" — a  sentiment  often  reiterat- 
ed by  Calvin  also.  Need  I  remind  you  that  our  Puritan 
and  Nonconformist  forefathers^the  champions  of  truth 
and  liberty  in  their  day — and  whose  standard  theology 
continues  to  nourish  the  piety  of  the  Church,  were 
learned  divines  ?  Need  I  add  further  that  among  the 
most  useful  men  of  modern  days,  have  been  a  Dodd- 
ridge and  a  Watts,  a  Wesley  and  a  Whitefield,  of 
England ;  and,  of  America,  an  Edwards,  a  Bellamy, 
and  a  Dwight ;  and  that,  besides  being  educated  them- 
selves, they  advocatf^d  the  Collegiate  preparation  of 
others  for  the  ministry — ^some  of  them  actually  presiding 
in  such  institutions  ? 

Far  be  it  from  us  to  deny  that  God  has  greatly  bless- 
ed the  preaching  of  some  uneducated  ministers.  "  We 
therein  do  rejoice,  yea,  and  will  rejoice,"  He  did  not 
bless  them,  however,  on  account  of  their  ignorance, 
but  in  spite  of  it.  It  was  not  their  ignorance  which  he 
blessed,  but  certain  other  qualities  which  they  possess- 
ed in  common  with  the  educated  man  of  God — quali- 
ities  which  a  wise  education  would  have  aided  to  de- 
velope  and  direct — zeal,  and  devotedness  to  the  glory 
of  God.  On  the  other  hand,  could  we  take  you  to  lis- 
ten to  some  of  this  class,  you  would  feel  at  once  that 
their  preaching — in  which  distinctions  are  frequently 
made  without  differences,  assertions  are  mistaken  for 
arguments,  and  illustrations  of  truth  substituted  for 
doctrines — is  of  a  character  to  limit  their  usefulness 
to  a  single  class  of  hearers,  and  to  disparage  them  in 
the  eyes  even  of  some  of  that  class.  And  how  many 
a  minister  of  this  description,  could  you  address  him 
on  the  subject,  would  feelingly  deplore  his  own  want 
of  early    education,  and  set  forth  the   disadvantages 


iSsfiviisif^ 


100        IMPORTANCE  OF  AN  EDUCATED  MINISTRY  : 

under  which  he  consequently  labours.  And  thus  you 
might  easily  obtain,  from  your  own  observation,  an 
illustration  of  the  same  truth  which  history  in  all  ages 
so  abundantly  confirms,  that  there  exists  a  relation  be- 
tween religion  and  an  educated  ministry,  and  that, 
where  the  latter  is  wanting,  the  former  invariably 
tends  to  superstition,  fanaticism,  or  extinction. 

And  now,  what,  after  all,  is  the  summary  of  the 
various  arguments  in  support  of  an  educated  ministry, 
but  simply  this — that  ignorance  is  imperfection  ;  and 
that,  in  the  case  of  the  man  of  God,  we  are  anxious 
to  lessen  that  imperfection  as  much  as  possible  ? 
What  is  it  but  saying,  that,  as  sin  is  the  parent  of  all 
voluntary  ignorance,  and  as  the  gospel  is  the  great 
remedy  for  sin,  we  believe  it  was  meant,  directly  or 
indirectly,  to  remedy  such  ignorance  as  well  as  every 
other  evil ;  and  that  we  are  anxious  that  the  man  of 
God  should  be  an  instance  of  its  remedial  influence  in 
this,  as  well  as  in  every  other  respect  ?  What  is  it 
but  saying,  that,  if  he  speak  for  God,  he  should  speak 
according  to  the  rules  of  language  ;  that,  if  he  at- 
tempt to  reason  for  God,  he  should  not  do  it  irrational- 
ly, but  according  to  the  rules  of  reasoning  ;  that,  if  he 
profess  to  be  an  interpreter  of  the  Bible,  he  should 
spare  no  pains  necessary  to  render  himself  a  correct 
expositor — "  an  able  minister  of  the  New  Testament." 
In  a  word,  what  is  it  but  saying  that  the  man  of  God 
should  be  made  as  acceptable  an  oflfering  to  the  Head 
of  the  Church,  and  as  efficient  an  agent  for  the  diffii- 
sion  of  the  Gospel,  as  his  own. endeavours  and  the  en- 
deavours of  the  Church,  combined  with  the  prayers  of 
both  for  the  impartation  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  can  possi- 
bly render  him  ? 

III.  Such  being  some  of  the  grounds  of  the  im- 
portance of  an  educated  ministry,  I  might  enlarge, 
thirdly,  on  the  consequent  obligations.  The  nature  of 
the  occasion,  however,  which  has  now  assembled  us, 
reminds  me  that  you  are  already  alive  to  those  obliga- 
tions, and  allows  me  to  restrict  myself  to  the  bare  enu- 
meration of  particulars. 


A   DISCOURSE.  101 

I  will  only  remind  you,  therefore,  that  as  your 
sense  of  the  importance  of  an  educated  ministry  com- 
mitted you  to  the  erection  of  a  College,  so  now  the 
erection  of  that  College  commits  you  to  a  series  of 
corresponding  duties.  By  selecting  the  more  capable 
and  intelligent,  as  well  as  pious,  among  the  youthful 
members  of  your  churches,  to  enjoy  its  advantages  ; 
by  fairly  estimating  its  pecuniary  wants  and  con- 
tributing liberally  to  its  support ;  by  allowing  its  stu- 
dents the  full  enjoyment  of  its  entire  course,  instead  of 
hastily  terminating  their  studies,  and  hurrying  them 
into  the  ministry  unprepared  ;  and  by  giving  the  pref- 
erence, when  called  to  choose  a  pastor,  not  to  one  of 
ignorant,  but  of  intelligent  piety ;  by  these  means 
you  cannot  fail,  under  God,  to  secure  an  intelligent 
ministry.  And  by  placing  these  means  in  your  power, 
the  Head  of  the  Church  is  leaving  you  to  say  whether 
he  shall  be  served  by  an  illiterate,  or  by  an  educated 
ministry. 

Brethren,  you  have  entered  on  a  great  work.  Bear 
with  me  while  I  exhort  you  to  view  it  chiefly  in  the 
highest  light.  View  it,  if  you  please,  as  an  honour 
and  a  service  to  the  Denomination  of  Christians  to 
which  you  belong  ;  and,  as  such,  it  richly  deserves 
their  practical  thanks.  But  regard  it  chiefly  as  be- 
longing to  that  great  system  of  agencies  by  which  God 
is  subduing  all  things  to  himself.  Contemplate  it 
chiefly  in  that  only  relation  in  which  it  can  be  invest- 
ed with  enduring  importance  ;  as  included  in  that  in- 
finite plan,  which  subordinates  all  our  movements  to 
its  own  designs,  and  which,  while  it  demands  the 
strenuous  activity  of  every  agent  in  the  universe,  yet 
absolutely  stands  in  need  of  none  ;  and  thus  regarded, 
you  will  feel  ennobled  while  rendering  it  the  humblest 
service.  Think  of  it,  if  you  please,  as  a  movement 
called  for  by  the  circumstances  of  the  time — as  a 
work  for  the  day  ;  but  fail  not  in  your  holiest  moments 
to  regard  it  as  touching  the  past  eternity  and  the  fu- 
ture ;  as  associated  with  that  "  ministry  of  reconcilia- 
tion" which  was  determined  on  before  the  foundation 


102         IMPORTANCE  OF  AN  EDUCATED  MINISTRY. 

of  the  world,  and  with  that  "  perfecting  of  the  saints" 
— that  "  edifying  of  the  body  of  Christ" — which  is  to 
be  the  theme  of  grateful  admiration  in  the  eternity  to 
come.  Think  of  it  as  a  means  which  God  will  em- 
ploy for  preparing  himself  agents  in  days  to  come — 
days  when  nobler  services  shall  be  rendered  to  his 
cause  than  we  have  ever  attempted,  and  when  loftier 
motives  shall  inspire  their  performance.  Thus  regard- 
ing it,  you  will  feel  that  you  are  living  for  the  future 
as  well  as  for  the  present ;  that  you  are  setting  in  mo- 
tion trains  of  ever  augmenting  influence,  which,  deriv- 
ing their  efficacy  from  heaven,  shall  hasten  the  com- 
pletion of  the  kingdom  of  God.  Cherish  the  convic- 
tion, if  you  please,  that  your  new  Institution  will  com- 
bine with  other  and  similar  means  to  raise  the  educa- 
tional character  of  the  Christian  ministry,  and  thus  to 
increase  its  usefulness ;  and  that,  on  this  account,  it 
will  deserve  the  suffrages  and  enjoy  the  confidence  of 
thousands.  But,  hasten  at  once  to  place  it  under  the 
guidance,  and  at  the  disposal,  of  Him,  "  for  whom  are 
all  things,  and  by  whom  all  things  consist ;"  and  you 
will  have  secured  for  it  a  patronage  which  will  bring 
good  for  it  even  out  of  evil,  and  which  will  make  it 
subservient  to  the  highest  end.  Place  it,  by  earnest 
prayer,  in  the  light  of  his  countenance  ;  and  its  high- 
est prosperity  is  secured  ;  and  on  you  he  will  confer 
the  honour  of  presenting  to  the  coming  generation  of 
Christians,  a  class  of  ministers  whose  only  motto  will 
be,  "  For  us  to  live  is  Christ." 

This  he  is  expecting  at  your  hands.  Link  it  as  a 
humble  instrumentality  to  the  cross  of  Christ ;  and, 
then,  what  though  no  patron  saint  gives  it  a  name,  and 
no  royal  munificence  endows  it,  "  the  Highest  himself 
shall  establish"  it ;  and  what  though  no  lofty  preten- 
sions to  Apostolic  succession  be  made  for  its  sons,  the 
Spirit  himself  shall  descend  to  anoint  them  to  their  of- 
fice, and  to  ratify  and  bless  the  work  of  your  hands. 
In  humble  dependence  and  grateful  faith  dedicate  the 
service  to  your  Lord ;  and  to  you  he  will,  in  efiect, 
repeat  his  ancient  promise,  "  from  this  day  will  I 
bless  you." 


THE  CONVERSION  OF  THE  JEWS : 
A  SERMON 


DELIVERED     BEFORE     THE    BRITISH    SOCIETY*     FOR   THE 

PROPAGATION    OF    THE    GOSPEL    AMONG    THE    JEWS, 

AT    THE    SCOTCH    CHURCH,    REGENT    SQUARE, 

LONDON,    APRIL,    1843. 

O  the  depth  of  the  riches  both  of  the  wisdom  and  knowledge  of 
God !  how  unsearchable  are  his  judgments^  and  his  ways  past 
finding  out !    Romans  xi.  33. 

Probably  many  of  you  have  listened  to  every  Lecture 
of  the  series  which  the  Discourse  of  this  evening  is 
to  bring  to  a  close.  You  first  beheld  the  Israelites 
invested  by  the  hand  of  God  with  peculiar  distinctions  ; 
for  "  to  them  pertaineth  the  adoption,  and  the  glory, 
and  the  covenants,  and  the  giving  of  the  law,  and  the 
service  of  God,  and  the  promises  ;  theirs  are  the  fathers, 
and  of  them  as  concerning  the  flesh,  Christ  came,  who 
is  over  all,  God  blessed  forever."  Having  glanced  at 
their  high  prerogatives  in  the  past,  your  eye  was  then 
pointed  to  their  great  destination  in  the  future.  "  For 
God  hath  not  cast  away  his  people  whom  he  did  fore- 
know." The  eye  of  prophecy  is  fixed  on  them  still.  For 
them,  some  of  the  choicest  promises  of  the  Bible  are 
reserved.  And  a  theatre  awaits  them,  in  which  their 
every  movement  shall  excite  the  devout  admiration  of 
the  Church,  and  engross  the  attention  of  the  world. 

*  The  single  object  of  the  "  British  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the 
Gospel  among  the  Jews,"  is  the  spiritual  good  of  the  ancient  people  of 
God.    For  this  it  seeks  to  engage  the  prayers,   the  influence,  and  the 


104       THE  CONVERSION  OF  THE  JEWS. 

Having  had  your  minds  prepared — as  I  suppose  was 
the  intention  of  those  who  drew  up  the  plan  of  the 
series — by  the  comprehensive  views  which  these  in- 
troductory discourses  would  suggest ;  your  attention 
was  then  called  to  that  succession  of  topics  which  serves, 
as  so  many  links,  to  connect  the  ancient  prerogatives 
of  the  Jew  with  his  final  destination.  You  listened  to 
a  description  of  his  national  characteristics.  You  saw 
his  people  dispersed,  his  nation  exploded,  and  scattered 
in  fragments  over  the  face  of  the  earth.  You  surveyed 
their  present  condition ;  and  you  saw  some  looking 
with  longing  eyes  to  Judea ;  others,  sensualized  and 
engrossed  by  the  world  ;  others,,  lapsing  into  Infidelity — 
all,  united  in  their  detestation  of  Christianity  ;  and,  as 
you  gazed  on  this  spectacle  of  spiritual  death,  you  were 
ready  to  inquire  in  despondency,  "  Can  these  dry  bones 
live?  "  The  subject  of  their  conversion  then  engaged 
your  attention  ;  and  you  saw,  in  a  light  which  removed 
all  apprehension — the  light  of  inspiration, — that  their 
recovery  is  possible,  probable,  certain. 

Next,  you  were  reminded,  or  were  to  have  been  re- 
minded, that,  in  order  to  realize  this  grand  consumma- 
tion many  and  formidable  obstacles  have  to  be  sur- 
mounted— obstacles  arising  from  adverse  influences  act- 
active  co-operation  of  all  who  love  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  sincerity. 
During  the  year  or  two  of  the  Society's  existence,  approved  Agents  have 
been  employed  in  visiting  the  Jews,  conversing  with  inquirers,  and  dis- 
tributing Tracts,  and  portions  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  in  the  Hebrew  and 
other  languages.  The  Committee  have  also  published  in  Hebrew  a  selec- 
tion of  passages  from  the  Old  Testament  Scriptures,  and  the  Epistle  to 
the  Hebrews  in  the  same  language. 

During  the  Spring  of  1843,  a  course  of  Lectures,  with  a  view  of  excit- 
ing an  increased  interest  in  the  operations  of  the  Society,  were  delivered 
in  the  National  Scotch  Church,  Regent-square,  by  the  Rev.  Messrs- 
James  Hamilton,  A.  M  ,  F.  A.  Cox,  D.D.,  L.L.  D.,  T.  Archer,  ^..  M., 
J.  Bennett,  D.D.,  E.  Henderson,  D.D.,  J.  C.  Burns,  A.  M.,  H.  F.  Burder, 
D.D.,  J.  Morrison,  D.D.,  J.  S.  Stamp,  and  J.  Harrris,  D.D.  These  lec- 
tures, delivered  by  Ministers  of  six  evangelical  denominations,  were 
afterwards  published  by  the  Committee  of  the  Society,  and  the  closing 
one  of  the  series  is  now  submitted  to  the  American  Christian  commu- 
nity.   Ed. 


A    SERMON.  105 

ing  on  the  Jews  from  without,  as  well  as  from  their 
own  hereditary  prejudices.  The  perception  of  these 
led  you  doubtfully  to  inquire,  "  Who  is  sufficient  for 
these  things  ?"  But  on  listening,  next,  to  the  encour- 
agements which  Christians  have  to  make  the  attempt, 
you  saw  that  their  sufficiency  is  of  God.  With  such 
incentives  and  encouragements,  you  saw  next,  how 
stringent  and  solemn  are  the  obligations  of  Christians  to 
seek  their  conversion  !  Impressed  these  with  obligations, 
you  were  prepared  to  consider,  next,  the  means  for 
acting  in  harmony  with  them.  And,  then,  as  a  further 
incentive  to  employ  these  means,  you  were  conducted 
to  a  point  whence  you  could  survey  the  benefits  which 
will  accrue  to  the  Church  from  the  conversion  of  the 
Jews  ;  and  where  you  could  luxuriate,  by  anticipation, 
in  the  blessedness  of  the  latter  days. 

An  important  advantage  arising  from  such  a  com- 
prehensive and  connected  view  of  a  great  subject  is 
the  number  of  side  views,  so  to  speak,  which  it  pre- 
sents to  a  reflective  mind  in  the  course  of  its  progress 
from  point  to  point — awakening  interesting  trains  of 
thought,  independently  of  those  which  may  be  under 
consideration  at  the  moment — affording  it  glimpses  of 
the  wide  and  unsuspected  relations  of  truth,  and  antici- 
pations of  their  distant  application  and  practical  results. 
In  this  respect  all  that  you  have  already  heard  on  the 
present  interesting  series,  may  be  regarded  as  having 
tended  to  prepare  you  for  the  point  which  we  have 
now  reached.  While  listening  to  the  successive  lec- 
tures, you  have  been  standing,  in  effect,  with  Balaam 
on  the  mountains  of  Moab ;  and,  while  looking  down 
on  the  thousands  of  Israel,  was  not  your  eye  insensi- 
bly attracted  to  the  guiding  pillar  of  cloud  and  of  fire  ? 
You  have  stood  with  Ezekiel  on  the  banks  of  the 
Chebar ;  and  have  been  rapt  in  the  far-reaching  visions 
of  Isaiah  and  of  Daniel ; — have  you  not  one  while 
admired  the  wisdom,  goodness,  and  power,  which 
have  at  all  times  been  brought  to  bear  on  the  history 
of  this  remarkable  people  ; — at  another,  the  vast  ex- 
tent of  the  Divine  plans  with  which  they  are  bound  up, 


106  THE  CONVERSION  OF  THE  JEWS. 

— and,  at  another,  the  mysterious  destiny  which  yet 
awaits  them  ?  Now,  all  those  passing  views  of  the  Di- 
vine conduct,  which  you  may  have  caught,  tending  to 
excite  astonishment  and  awe,  adoration  and  joy,  the 
subject  of  this  evening  is  calculated  so  to  combine  and 
exhibit,  as  to  engage  your  steady  and  prolonged  atten- 
tion. That  subject,  appropriately  selected  for  this  con- 
cluding lecture,  is,  the  glory  which  will  redound  to 
God  from  the  conversion  of  the  Jews.  In  that  event, 
there  will  be  a  summing  up  of  all  their  long  and  event- 
ful history  ;  and  so  vast  is  the  revenue  of  praise  which 
that  conclusion  will  bring  to  God,  that  Christ  would 
fain  have  his  Church,  in  every  age,  to  foretaste  the 
joy,  and  to  antedate  the  song.  Inspiration  has  even 
prepared  the  strain.  And  to  a  part  of  that  language, 
caught  by  the  Apostle  Paul  from  the  kindred  soul  of 
Isaiah,  I  would  now  direct  your  attention ;  with  an 
earnest  prayer,  that  our  hearts  may  be  in  harmony 
with  the  sentiment  which  it  breathes  :  "  OA  the  depth 
of  the  riches  both  of  the  wisdom  and  knowledge  of 
God  !  how  unsearchable  are  his  judgments^  and  his 
ways  past  finding  out  !  "     Rom.  xi.  33. 

I.  Now,  among  the  various  considerations  which 
will  prompt  this  exclamation,  on  the  conversion  of  the 
Jews,  and  which  should  influence  us  in  the  anticipa- 
tion of  that  event,  one  is  the  fact  that  their  national 
preservation  through  so  long  a  tract  of  time  will  fur- 
nish  a  wonderful  illustration  of  the  Divine  power. 
Their  history  in  this  respect  is  unparalleled.  They 
can  look  back  along  a  line  of  ancestry,  compared  with 
which  that  of  the  Norman  peer,  and  the  Saxon  noble, 
are  but  of  yesterday.  Nations  which  did  not  begin  to 
exist  till  long  after  the  Jew  had  acquired  a  history, 
have  long  ago  run  their  course  and  perished ;  but  he 
is  unchanged.  The  Roman,  the  Athenian,  the  Baby- 
lonian, is  now  only  a  name — the  shadow  of  a  name  ; 
yet  when  the  most  ancient  of  these  powers  was  laying 
the  foundation  of  its  existence,  the  Jew  could  already 
trace  back  a  genealogy  of  centuries.  As  the  modern 
traveller  surveys  the  remains  of  the  arch  of  Titus  at 


A    SERMON.  107 

Rome,  he  feels  himself  bewildered  in  endeavouring  to 
realize  the  distant  date  of  its  erection — and  yet  it 
commemorates  only  the  last  of  a  long  series  of  Jewish 
dispersions.  You  read  of  the  fragments  of  antiquity 
dug  up  from  the  ruins  of  Babylon,  and  your  mind  is 
carried  still  further  back  than  by  the  Roman  arch ;  but 
the  Jew  possibly  formed  that  Babylonian  brick,  and 
imprinted  on  it  those  arrow-headed  characters.  The 
pyramids  of  Egypt  take  your  imagination  still  further 
back  ;  the  Jew  not  improbably  helped  to  build  the  old- 
est of  them.  Enter  the  most  ancient  of  the  royal 
tombs  at  Thebes,  and  mark  the  national  physiognomies 
painted  on  the  walls — you  recognise  that  of  the  Jew 
unaltered  to  the  present  day.  Time  itself  was  young, 
when  the  Lord  said  unto  Abraham,  "  I  will  surely 
make  of  thee  a  great  nation." 

Nor  will  any  of  the  ordinary  means  of  national 
preservation  account  for  their  continuance.  They 
have  not,  like  the  Chinese,  been  stationary,  and  built  in 
from  the  rest  of  the  human  family.  From  about  the 
year  740  before  Christ,  till  the  final  destruction  of  Je- 
rusalem by  Titus,  they  suffered  as  many  dispersions, 
partial  or  entire,  as  there  were  centuries.  Their  wan- 
derings in  the  wilderness,  relieved  by  temporary  en- 
campments, may  be  regarded  as  an  emblem  of  all 
their  subsequent  history.  Foreign  help  and  alliances 
will  not  explain  it.  For,  besides  the  fiercest  commo- 
tions within,  they  have  sustained,  unaided,  a  quick 
succession  of  the  most  sunguinary  invasions  from 
without.  They  have  known  the  degradation  of  slavery, 
the  chains  of  captivity,  and  persecution  in  all  its  forms. 
Arms,  climate,  genius,  politics,  equally  fail  to  explain 
it.  For  they  have  been  crumbled,  and  scattered  over 
the  face  of  the  earth  ;  and  yet  they  exist.  They  have 
used  every  dialect,  and  lived  in  every  latitude  of  civil- 
ized man.  They  have  cried  by  reason  of  their  task- 
masters on  the  banks  of  the  Nile  ;  by  the  waters  of 
Babylon  they  have  sat  down  and  wept ;  the  Jordan, 
the  Tiber,  the  Thames,  the  Mississippi,  have  alike 
quenched   their   thirst.      Paganism    has    made   itself 


108        THE  CONVERSION  OF  THE  JEWS. 

drunk  with  their  blood.  Popery  has  kindled  and  re- 
joiced over  the  fires  which  consumed  them  ;  and  Ma- 
hometanism  has  chased  and  smitten  them  with  untir- 
ing hate  ;  and  yet  they  exist.  Old  empires  which  op- 
pressed them  have  fallen  ;  but  the  Jew  has  lived  on 
amidst  their  ruins.  Young  nations  have  started  into 
being,  and  he  has  been  present  to  mingle  with  their 
elements  ; — mingling,  but  never  uniting ;  a  river 
flowing  through  the  ocean,  but  never  losing  its  distinct 
character  and  existence.  For  "  from  the  top  of  the 
rocks  I  see  him  ;  and  from  the  hills  I  behold  him ;  lo, 
the  people  shall  dwell  alone,  and  shall  not  be  reckon- 
ed among  the  nations." 

And,  as  if  to  complete  the  wonder  of  their  continu- 
ed existence,  the  probability  is,  according  to  the  most 
recent  and  exact  statistics,  that  their  number  at  this 
moment  is  very  nearly  the  same  as  it  was  on  their 
leaving  Egypt  under  Moses — somewhere  about  three 
millions  and  a  half. 

Now,  the  only  way  in  which  their  preservation  can 
be  accounted  for  is  by  accepting  the  scriptural  solu- 
tion of  the  fact,  and  ascribing  it  to  the  miraculous  ex- 
ercise of  the  Divine  Power.  This,  indeed,  is  very 
generally  admitted  already.  The  visions  of  the  poet 
are  haunted  by  the  fact,  as  by  a  voice  from  the  invisi- 
ble world.  The  philosophic  historian  confesses  that  he 
has  no  place  for  it  in  all  his  generalizations ;  and  re- 
fers it  to  the  mysteries  of  Providence.  The  enlight- 
ened Christian  recognises  in  it  the  presence  and  agen- 
cy of  Him  who  hath  said,  "  I  am  God,  I  change  not  : 
therefore,  ye  sons  of  Jacob  are  not  consumed."  The 
Jew  himself  is,  of  course,  willing  to  ascribe  it  to  the 
hand  of  God,  for  it  ministers  to  his  self-importance. 
But  when,  in  the  best,  the  highest  respect,  he  "  shall 
be  turned  unto  the  Lord,"  in  how  different  a  sense 
will  he  trace  the  preservation  of  his  people  to  the  Di- 
vine Being  !  A  time  of  conversion  is  a  period  of  re- 
flection and  review.  How  many  a  man  converted 
late  in  life — converted  towards  the  close  of  a  long  and 
hazardous  career — awakes  as   from  a  dream  to  spend 


A    SERMON.  109 

the  rest  of  his  days  in  grateful  astonishment  at  the 
power  which  "  preserved  him  in  Christ  Jesus"  till  he 
was  called.  He  clearly  sees  that  his  past  history  ex- 
hibits one  continued  series  of  Divine  interpositions  for 
his  safety  ;  and  as  his  fellow-Christians  listen  to  his  tale 
of  the  divine  goodness,  "  they  glorify  God  in  him." 
But  here  will  be  a  whole  people  converted  in  the  even- 
ing of  time.  And  when  it  shall  be  remembered  that 
they  were  called  in  the  morning  of  time  ;  that  they 
were  then  the  subjects  of  Divine  impressions ;  that 
God  himself  could  say  concerning  them,  "  T  remem- 
ber thee,  the  kindness  of  thy  espousals,  and  the  love 
of  thy  youth,  when  thou  wentest  after  me  in  the  wil- 
derness ;"  that  their  promising  appearances  vanished 
like  the  early  dew  ;  that,  with  few  intermissions,  they 
had  ever  since  been  running  the  gauntlet  of  the  na- 
tions ;  buffeted  by  a  blind  and  bloodthirsty  world  ;  per- 
secuted, but  not  forsaken ;  cast  down,  but  not  destroy- 
ed ;  with  what  new  emphasis  and  enlarged  meaning 
will  they  have  to  sing,  "  If  it  had  not  been  the  Lord 
who  was  on  our  side, — now  may  Israel  say  ; — if  it  had 
not  been  the  Lord  who  was  on  our  side,  when  men  rose 
up  against  us ;  then  had  they  swallowed  us  up  quick. 
Then  the  proud  waters  had  gone  over  our  soul.  Bless- 
ed be  the  Lord  who  hath  not  given  us  a  prey  to  their 
teeth.  Our  help  is  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  who  made 
heaven  and  earth !"  And  so  manifestly  will  their 
continued  existence  as  a  nation  be  then  traceable  to 
the  hand  of  God,  that  the  entire  Church,  as  with  one 
voice,  shall  ascribe  the  glory  to  him- alone. 

II.  But  will  it  not  further  redound  to  the  glory  of 
God  when  it  shall  be  seen  that  the  preservation  of  the 
Jews  has  not  been  effected  by  mere  power — by  the 
capricious  exercise  of  blind  force,  or  arbitrary  might, — 
but  that,  from  first  to  last,  that  poiver  ivas  under  the 
guidance  of  wisdom,  or  was  exercised  according  to  a 
plan  ?  A  new  light  is  dawning  on  the  mind  of  men 
respecting  the  existence  and  the  nature  of  this  plan. 
History  is  beginning  to  be  written  in  a  new  manner. 
Formerly  the  historian  was  only  required  to  collect  and 


110  THE  CONVEESION  OF  THE  JEWS. 

to  record  facts.  But  at  length  it  has  occurred  to  him 
that  all  the  facts  of  history  are,  in  a  variety  of  ways 
connected ;  that  could  the  principles  of  this  connexion 
be  traced  and  developed,  it  would  be  found  that  all 
history  forms  one  organic  whole  ;  and,  hence,  to  trace 
and  to  expound  these  principles  has  now  come  to  be 
considered  the  highest  office  of  the  historian — the 
very  philosophy  of  history — a  philosophy  dignified  by 
the  name  of  "  The  New  Science." 

It  should  be  remembered  however  by  every  lover  of 
the  Bible  that  its  histories  were  never  written  in  any 
other  way.  Some  of  the  modern  writers  of  history 
indeed  are  free  to  acknowledge,  and  even  to  lay  stress 
on  the  fact  as  very  remarkable,  that  the  man  who 
made  one  of  the  first  sustained  and  consistent  attempts 
to  exhibit  the  facts  of  universal  history  in  ideal  unity 
should  have  been  an  ecclesiastic — Bossuet ;  that  phi- 
losophy should  have  been  indebted  to  theology  for  this 
prolific  suggestion.  But  Biblical  history,  I  repeat, 
was  never  written  in  any  other  way.  It  both  states 
the  facts,  and  the  principles  which  unite  them.  True, 
after  sketching,  by  a  few  masterly  strokes,  the  history 
of  the  race  from  the  creation  to  the  dispersion  at  Ba- 
bel, it  does  not  follow  each  branch  of  the  human  fam- 
ily, but  confines  its  history  to  one — that  of  the  Jews. 
But  in  the  history  of  that  one,  you  have,  in  effect,  a 
type  of  the  whole.  And  more  ;  in  the  history  of  that 
one,  you  frequently  catch  glimpses  of  the  others — 
glimpses  of  them  at  the  most  eventful  moments  of 
their  existence.  You  see  them,  for  example,  as  on 
the  plains  of  Dura — the  world  in  an  act  of  idolatrous 
worship  ; — or  you  hear  the  tramp  of  their  armies  going 
forth  to  depopulate  whole  regions ;  or  you  hear  the 
crush  of  towers  and  thrones  smitten  by  an  invisible 
hand.  And  more  still ;  the  Bible  is  prophetic  as  well 
as  historic ;  affords  us  visions  of  the  future  as  well  as 
records  of  the  past.  Here  the  idea  of  the  unity  and 
universality  of  Providence  in  the  history  of  man  is 
fully  brought  out.  Before  Herodotus,  called  the  Fa- 
ther of  History,  had  begun  to  amass  his  confused  ma- 


A  SERMON.  Ill 

terials,  Isaiah  had  sung  the  glory  of  the  latter  day  ; 
and  Daniel  had  foretold  the  kingdoms  which  would 
arise,  and  the  order  of  their  succession,  to  the  end  of 
time. 

Again,  then,  I  repeat  the  Bible  never  spoke  of  the 
course  of  human  events  but  as  conducted  on  a  great 
plan. — And  with  this  peculiarity^  that  from  the  time 
of  the  promise  to  Abraham,  "  that  in  his  seed  all  the 
nations  of  the  earth  should  be  blessed,"  the  entire 
plan  was  regulated  in  relation  to  his  posterity.  Nay, 
ages  earlier  than  that,  the  plan  began  to  evolve. 
"  Ask  thy  father,"  said  Moses,  "  and  he  will  show 
thee  ;  thy  elders,  and  they  will  tell  thee.  When  the 
Most  High  divided  to  the  nations  their  inheritance, 
when  he  separated  the  sons  of  Adam,  he  set  the 
bounds  of  the  people  according  to  the  number  of  the 
children  of  Israel."  Yes,  before  Moses,  before  Pisgah 
itself,  from  which  Moses  looked  down  on  the  prom- 
ised land,  existed.  His  eye  had  looked  down  from  the 
height  of  his  sanctuary,  and  had  beheld  prospectively 
that  Sinai  whence  his  law  should  be  given — that  Zion 
which  should  be  crowned  with  his  temple — and  that 
Calvary  which  should  receive  the  mystery  of  the  Cross. 
The  great  principle  on  which  the  habitable  part  of  the 
globe  was  moulded  and  mapped  out,  was  a  principle 
of  relation  to  his  chosen  people.  And,  as  the  great 
drama  of  Providence  unfolded,  act  after  act,  the  civil- 
ized portion  of  the  world  invariably  found  itself  involved 
with  that  people.  Think  of  those  noble  Psalms,  the  78th, 
105th,  and  106th,  in  which  you  have  the  recapitulations 
of  their  early  history  ;  do  you  not  hear  Jehovah,  as  he 
leads  them  through  the  nations,  saying,  "  Touch  not 
mine  anointed,  and  do  my  prophets  no  harm  ?"  Are 
they  invaded  and  oppressed  ? — "  Who  delivered  up 
Jacob  to  be  a  spoil,  and  Israel  to  the  plunderers  ? — Was 
it  not  Jehovah  ?"  saith  the  prophet ;  "  He  against  whom 
they  had  sinned."  Does  the  Assyrian  monarch  afflict 
Israel  ? — "  The  Assyrian,  saith  God,  is  the  rod  in  my 
hand."  Does  the  Persian  deliver  Israel  ? — "  I  called 
thee  distinctly  by  thy  name,"  saith  God  to  Cyrus  ;  "  I 


112  THE    CONVERSION    OF    THE    JEWS. 

made  honourable  mention  of  thee,  though  thou  knewest 
me  not."       Did  nations  change  hands  in  consequence 
of  the  Persian  movement  ?       "  I,"    saith  God  to  his 
people,  "  I  have  given  Egypt  for .  thy  ransom  ;  Cush 
and  Seba  for  thee."    The  transfer  was  Persia's  reward 
for  Israel's  liberation.     Have  the  ancient  persecutors 
of  Israel  perished  ?     Their  destruction  was  foretold  ; 
and  this  was  the   reason  assigned  for  it :     "  Jehovah 
hath  a  day  of  vengeance,  a  year  of  recompense  in 
vindication  of*  Zion."     "  Search  out,"  saith  the  proph- 
et, "  search  out  from  the  book  of  Jehovah,  and  read  : 
not  one  of  these  shall  fail."     And  when,  at  length, 
"  the  time  shall  have  come,  yea,  the  set  time  to  favour 
Zion" — for  even  that  is  foretold ;  when  in  the  light  of 
a  Divine  teaching  they  shall  search  out  of  the  book  of 
Jehovah,  and  read ;  when  they  shall  see  that  in  all 
their  wanderings  from  God,  he  has  never  allowed  them 
to  pass  beyond  the  lines  of  a  plan  which  his  own  finger 
had  traced  out ;  that,  as  often  as  they  essayed  to  do  so, 
they  invariably  encountered  some  form  of  evil  arrest- 
ing their  progress,  which  He  had  foretold ;  that,  in  that 
comprehensive  plan,  every  useful  agent  had  his  post 
assigned,  every  event  its  hour  foreknown,  everything 
was  calculated  and  foreseen  ;  and,  yet,  that  the  whole 
series  was  so  forelaid  that  the  moral  freedom  of  no  ac- 
countable being  should  be  violated  ;  what  ground  will 
there   be  for  repeating  the  ancient  appeal  of  Joshua, 
and  saying,  "  Ye  know  in  all  your  hearts  and  in  all 
your  souls,  that  not  one  thing  has  failed  of  all  that 
the  Lord  your  God  spake  concerning  you  :  all  have 
come  to  pass,  and  not  one  thing  hath  failed."     "  O  the 
depth  of  the  riches,  both  of  the  wisdom  and  knowledge 
of  God." 

III.  Will  it  not  further  redound  to  the  glory  of  God 
when  it  shall  appear  tliat  the  entire  plan  of  his  conduct 
towards  Israel  has  directly  tended  to  promote  their 
highest  welfare  hy  illustrating  the  great  principles  of 
his  moral  government  7  Many  of  these  principles  are 
indicated  in  the  context.  Here  is  the  principle  of  medi' 
ation — of  making  the  conduct  or  the  relationship  of 


A    SERMON.  118 

one  the  reason  for  blessing  others.  Early  in  the  history 
of  the  Church  had  the  Jews  been  famiharized  with  this 
principle  ;  for  it  lies  at  the  basis  of  human  salvation. 
Again  and  again,  by  type,  and  promise,  and  declara- 
tion, had  they  been  reminded  of  it.  But  as  often  had 
they  forgotten  it,  and  self-righteously  assumed  that  they 
were  favoured  for  their  own  sakes  alone  ;  or  else  had 
persuaded  themselves  that  the  Almighty  no  longer  acted 
on  the  principle.  But,  no,  saith  the  apostle,  "God  hath 
not  cast  away  his  people."  They  are  still  beloved : 
but  they  are  beloved,  as  they  ever  have  been,  for  the 
fathers'  sakes."  Now  their  conversion  will,  at  length, 
establish  this  fact.  It  will  show  them  that  they  have 
never  been  absolutely  renounced ;  that  in  all  their 
wanderings  and  toils  they  have  still  been  remembered 
by  God  as  the  seed  of  Abraham  his  friend.  It  will 
expound  the  great  fact  why  Abraham  himself  was 
beloved.  They  will  then  see  that  there  never  was, 
never  can  be,  but  "  one  Mediator  between  God  and 
man,  the  Man  Christ  Jesus  ;"  the  day  of  whose  com- 
ing Abraham  saw,  and  was  glad. 

Justice  is  another  principle  of  the  Divine  conduct. 
"  Behold,"  saith  the  apostle,  "  the  goodness  and  severi- 
ty of  God  :  on  them  who  fell,  severity."  And  looking 
back  on  the  long  track  of  their  history,  they  will  be- 
hold it  covered  from  the  first  with  the  memorials  of  the 
Divine  displeasure  against  sin.  They  will  see  that  in- 
stead of  making  his  love  a  reason  for  allowing  them  to 
sin  with  impunity,  He  has  ever  been  saying,  in  effect, 
*'  You  only  have  I  known  of  all  the  families  of  the 
earth  ;  therefore  I  will  punish  you  for  all  your  iniqui- 
ties ;"  and  that  every  stroke  of  his  fatherly  chastise- 
ment was  intended  to  bring  them  in  penitence  to  his 
feet. 

Has  it  always  been  a  peculiar  feature  of  the  Divine 
conduct  to  bring  good  out  of  evil  ?  In  the  history 
and  conversion  of  the  Jews  this  Divine  prerogative 
will  be  seen  displayed  on  the  most  magnificent 
scale.  It  will  be  seen  that  He  has  made  the  mutual 
jealousy  of  the  Jew  and  Gentile  an  occasion  of  good 
8 


114  THE  CONVERSION  OF  THE  JEWS  I 

to  each  ;  thus  converting,  by  a  Divine  alchemy,  the 
poison  of  human  hostility  into  a  cup  of  blessing — a 
sacramental  cup  of  everlasting  friendship.  It  will  be 
seen  that  he  has  taken  occasion  from  the  unbelief  and 
temporary  rejection  of  the  one,  to  visit  the  other  with 
the  means  of  salvation.  The  apostacy  of  the  human 
race  was  the  occasion  of  Israel's  election  at  the  first. 
And  when,  after  repeated  apostasies,  Israel  was  aban- 
doned, that  became  the  occasion  of  salvation  to  the 
Gentiles, — ''  The  casting  away  of  them  was  the  recon- 
ciling of  the  world,"  saith  the  apostle  ;  the  "  fall  of 
them  was  the  enriching  of  the  Gentiles."  The  history 
of  Israel,  indeed,  will  afford  many  other  illustrations 
of  the  same  great  principle.  Their  slavery  in  Egypt 
was  a  time  of  merciful  visitation  for  that  country* 
Their  seventy  years'  rejection  and  captivity  in  Babylon 
were  calculated  to  enlighten  and  to  bless  the  people  of 
that  empire.  Their  departure  from  Egypt  and  Baby- 
lon was  a  loss  to  those  nations,  and  the  gain  of  Judea. 
But  these,  and  all  the  similar  instances  which  had  oc- 
curred, were  summed  up  and  generalized,  so  to  speak, 
by  that  great  "  casting  off"  referred  to  by  the  apostle  ; 
— an  event  so  great  as  to  form  the  line  which  divides 
the  history  of  the  world  into  two  parts.  And  then, 
again,  at  the  time  of  their  conversion,  they  will  see 
with  amazement  that  the  very  act  which  completed 
their  guilt,  and  which  became  the  means  of  salvation 
to  the  Gentiles — namely,  the  rejection  and  crucifixion 
of  Christ — has  become  the  means  of  their  own  salva- 
tion ;  that  in  gratifying  their  own  enormous  malice, 
they  were  unconsciously  doing  whatsoever  the  Divine 
"  hand  and  counsel  determined  before  to  be  done  ;" 
that  in  preparing  an  ignominious  cross,  they  were 
blindly  erecting  the  very  throne  on  which  the  rejected 
Jesus  should  reign,  "  a  prince  and  a  Saviour,  to  give 
repentance  unto  Israel  and  the  remission  of  sins." 

Is  it  another  grand  characteristic  of  the  Divine  pro- 
cedure, so  to  time  and  to  distribute  his  judgments  and 
mercies,  as  to  make  us  feel  our  entire  dependence  on 
Mm?     My  own  deep  conviction  is,  that  this  is  not 


A    SERMON.  115 

merely  a  principle  ;  but  that  it  is  the  great  all-encom- 
passing and  all-interpreting  principle  of  the  Divine 
conduct — and  that  on  its  ultimate  triumph  depend  alike 
the  happiness  of  the  creature,  and  the  glory  of  God. 
Would  you  know,  for  example,  why  it  was  that  Israel, 
when  brought  out  of  Egypt,  was  not  led  straight  to 
Canaan  ?  Listen  to  the  inspired  reply  :  "  Thou  shall 
remember  all  the  way  which  the  Lord  thy  God  led 
thee  these  forty  years  in'  the  wilderness,  to  humble 
thee,  and  to  prove  thee,  to  know  what  was  in  thine 
heart,  whether  thou  wouldest  keep  his  commandments, 
or  no.  And  he  humbled  thee,  and  suffered  thee  to 
hunger,  and  fed  thee  with  manna,  which  thou  knewest 
not,  neither  did  thy  fathers  know  ;  that  he  might  make 
thee  know  that  man  doth  not  live  by  bread  only,  but 
by  every  word  that  proceedeth  out  of  the  mouth  of 
the  Lord  doth  man  live :" — in  other  words,  it  was  part 
of  a  great  system  of  moral  discipline,  designed  experi- 
mentally to  convince  them  of  their  entire  dependence 
upon  God.  Would  you  know  why  it  was  that  the 
coming  of  Christ  was  so  long  delayed  ;  and  why  it 
was  that  the  Jews  were  cast  off — that  their  conversion 
did  not  take  place  at  the  commencement  of  the  Chris- 
tian dispensation,  instead  of  being  for  so  many  centu- 
ries delayed  ?  Doubtless  other  reasons  repose  in  the 
bosom  of  infinite  Wisdom  ;  but  hear  the  reason  which, 
in  the  context,  is  assigned,  "  God  hath  concluded  them 
all  in  unbelief,  that  he  might  have  mercy  upon  all." 
In  other  words,  he  waited  for  the  Gentiles,  till  they 
had  completed  the  great  experiment  which  proved, 
that  the  world  by  its  wisdom  would  never  arrive  at  the 
knowledge  of  God.  And  he  is  now  waiting  for  the 
Jews,  till  it  shall  be  evident — evident  to  themselves — 
that  all  ground  for  self-dependence  has  utterly  perished. 
Were  he  to  cut  short  that  great  experiment  which  man 
is  bent  on  making — of  trying  to  do  without  the  grace 
of  God — man  would  not  be  prepared  to  appreciate  the 
Divine  interposition.  It  would  seem  as  if  man  must 
be  allowed  to  try  his  last  resource,  exhaust  his  last  ex- 
pedient, before  he  will  submit  to  be  saved  by  sovereign 


116  THE  CONVERSION  OF  THE  JEWS  I 

mercy.  God  therefore  waits  ;  waits  till  man  has  found 
that  his  every  unaided  effort  has  plunged  him  deeper 
in  misery  and  guilt ;  waits  till  sin  has  bound  its  victim 
hand  and  foot,  and  has  dragged  him  to  the  edge  of  the 
pit.  Thus  he  waited  for  the  Gentiles,  and  thus  he  is 
now  delaying  for  the  Jews  ;  that,  having  convicted 
them  all  of  unbelief  and  utter  helplessness,  he  might 
have  mercy  upon  all  in  a  manner  most  honourable  and 
glorious  to  his  sovereign  grace. 

Who  by  searching  can  find  out  God  !  How  long- 
suffering  the  patience  which  can  thus  bear  with  a 
course  of  human  provocation  ever  raging  and  ever  in- 
creasing !  How  vast  the  reach  and  compass  of  that 
plan  which  counts  ages  as  moments,  and  takes  in  the 
end  from  the  beginning !  How  stable  that  purpose 
which,  before  the  foundation  of  the  world,  fixed  its  eye 
on  an  object  which  is  still  future — from  which  nothing 
has  been  able  to  divert  it — on  which  it  is  still  fixed — 
and  to  which  everything  else  is  subordinated  !  "  For 
the  gifts  and  calling  of  God  are  without  repentance." 
How  worthy  of  infinite  perfection  is  that  process  by 
which  evil  is  not  merely  thwarted,  but  made  produc- 
tive of  good ;  by  which,  in  all  ages,  grapes  are  gather- 
ed from  the  thorns  of  human  nature,  and  figs  from 
thistles  ;  by  which  the  wrath  of  man — not  his  faith 
merely,  not  his  obedience,  not  his  humility — but  the 
very  wrath  of  man,  his  worst  passions  armed  and  rag- 
ing, are  made  to  praise  God  ;  made  to  yield  notes 
which  reach  the  skies  only  to  blend  with  the  song  of 
the  seraphim.  And  how  utterly  unfathomable  are  the 
reasons  on  which  the  great  scheme  is  constructed  ! 
One  of  these,  indeed,  the  apostle  assigns — that  the 
whole  is  designed  to  humble  man,  and  to  redound  to  ' 
the  glory  of  the  grace  of  God.  But  even  this  does  not 
enable  us  to  fathom  the  deeps  of  the  Divine  counsels. 
We  want  the  strength  and  the  skill  necessary  to  use 
the  immeasurable  line.  Here  even  an  apostle  fails. 
For  after  having  sounded  his  way  for  awhile  among 
the  mere  shallows  of  this  ocean,  he  no  sooner  launches 
out  into  the  deep,  and  there  reverently  essays  to  fathom 


A  SERMON.  117 

it,  than,  suddenly  seized  with  an  overwhelming  awe, 
he  gives  up  the  attempt,  exclaiming,  "  O  the  depth  of 
the  riches  both  of  the  wisdom  and  knowledge  of  God  ! 
how  unsearchable  are  his  judgments,  and  his  ways  past 
finding  out !" 

IV.  But  what  if  this  great  system  of  discipline, 
after  displaying  for  ages  the  principles  of  the  Divine 
government,  and  directly  tending  to  lead  the  Jews  to 
repentance,  should  leave  them  as  it  found  them — worse 
than  it  found  them  ?  Would  not  their  conversion^  after 
all,  to  the  faith  of  Christ,  redound,  to  a  degree  in- 
conceivable, to  the  glory  of  God  ?  This  is  our  fourth 
particular. 

And,  here,  you  will  see  the  relation  of  our  preced- 
ing remarks  to  the  point  we  have  now  reached.  The 
strength  of  a  mechanical  power  is  estimated  by  the 
degree  of  resistance  which  it  overcomes.  And  the 
honour  which  will  accrue  to  the  grace  of  God  in  the 
conversion  of  the  Jews,  is  to  be  estimated,  partly,  by 
the  amount  and  the  duration  of  their  previous  resistance 
to  that  grace. 

1.  Now,  viewed  in  this  light,  you  will  see  that  their 
conversion  will  reflect  transcendent  honour  on  the  power 
of  the  grace  which  effects  it.  For  you  are  to  remark 
that  we  are  not  now  speaking  of  the  conversion  of  a 
people  who,  like  the  South  Sea  Islander,  had  never 
before  enjoyed  the  light  of  Revelation ;  but  of  a  people 
who,  in  this  sense,  have  never  been  in  darkness ;  to 
whose  ears  the  voice  of  God  was  a  familiar  sound  ;  on 
whose  eyes  the  fires  of  Sinai  and  the  light  of  "  the  day 
star  from  on  high"  had  alike  shone  ;  but  in  vain.  And 
yet  they  are  at  length  to  tremble  at  that  voice,  and  to 
rejoice  in  that  light.  Nor  are  we  speaking  of  a  people 
who,  like  most  of  the  converts  from  among  ourselves, 
are,  prior  to  their  change,  merely  indifferent  to  Chris- 
tianity, and  who  are  taking  it  for  granted  that  they  are 
already  converted  ;  but  of  a  people  who  have  ever  been 
actively  hostile  to  all  spiritual  religion ;  a  people  to 
whom  the  martyred  Stephen  could  say,  "  Ye  stiffnecked 
and  uncircumcised  in  heart  and  ears,  ye  do  always  resist 


118        THE  CONVERSION  OF  THE  JEWS  : 

the  Holy  Ghost :  as  your  fathers  did,  so  do  ye.  Which 
of  the  prophets  have  not  your  fathers  persecuted  ?"  a 
people  whose  fathers  blasphemed  the  Holy  Ghost,  and 
thus  incurred  the  fearful  guilt  of  the  unpardonable  sin  ; 
a  people  therefore  who  will  be  found  inheriting  all  those 
evil  dispositions  which  had  never  ceased  to  resist  the 
Spirit  of  God ;  and  yet  they  are,  at  length,  to  cry  out 
for  this  grieved  and  resisted  Spirit,  and  to  yield  them- 
selves up  to  his  power.  Nor  are  we  speaking  of  this 
people  as  nominally  converted  merely — simply  prose- 
lyted to  the  faith — as  many  of  the  European  nations 
were ;  but  as  renewed  in  the  spirit  of  their  minds — 
changed  in  their  very  heart  of  hearts.  The  conversion 
of  the  three  thousand  on  the  day  of  Pentecost  was  the 
great  miracle  of  the  Christian  economy.  The  sudden 
transformation  of  three  thousand  souls  was  a  new  thing 
in  the  earth.  For  a  multitude  just  fresh  from  Calvary 
to  receive  as  their  Saviour  the  being  they  had  there 
nailed  in  deadly  hatred  to  a  cross,  proclaimed  a  change 
of  their  entire  nature  which  God  alone  could  effect. 
But  here  a  still  greater  change  is  to  be  seen ;  the  con- 
version of  a  people  who,  besides  the  hatred  of  their 
forefathers  to  our  blessed  Lord,  are  naturally  filled  with 
distrust  and  hatred  of  all  his  professed  followers  by 
whom,  for  ages,  they  have  been  persecuted.  Compar- 
ed with  this,  no  change  the  world  has  yet  witnessed 
deserves  to  be  named.  Conceive,  if  you  can,  of  the 
revolution  which  your  nature  must  undergo  before  you 
could  adopt  Hindooism  ; — adopt  it  not  merely  by  bow- 
ing in  its  temples,  and  conforming  to  its  ritual,  but  by 
actually  believing  in  its  idol  gods.  You  feel  that,  be- 
fore you  could  do  this,  you  must  be  entirely  re-made. 
Nor  does  the  Jew  feel  less  deeply  that  to  be  transform- 
ed into  an  humble,  spiritual,  devoted  Christian,  he  must 
become  a  new  creature.  To  exchange  the  form  of 
godliness  for  the  power,  proclaims  the  presence  of  a 
Divine  agent ;  but  to  worship  in  the  name  of  the  very 
Being  on  whom  the  heart  had  hitherto  vented  its  bitter- 
est execrations ;  to  regard  the  cross  which  he  had 
hitherto  viewed  as  the  signal  of  ignominy  and  guilt,  as 


A  SERMON.  119 

the  object  of  all  his  affections,  the  motive  of  all  his 
actions,  the  illuminated  centre  of  all  his  hopes — this 
implies  a  change  so  great  that  it  might  almost  excuse 
unbelief  (if  anything  could  excuse  it)  for  saying,  "  If 
the  Lord  would  open  windows  in  heaven  might  this 
thing  be."  But  unbelief  itself  is  silenced  by  the  dec- 
laration that  opened  they  shall  be.  For  thus  saith  the 
Lord,  "  I  will  pour  my  Spirit  upon  thy  seed,  and  my 
blessing  upon  thine  offspring." 

2.  Associated  with  this  display  of  omnipotent  energy 
in  the  conversion  of  the  Jews,  there  will  be  the  exercise 
of  unlimited  grace  in  their  forgiveness.  We  seek  not 
to  exaggerate  the  guilt  of  the  Jews.  We  believe  that 
the  guilt  of  many  an  individual  Jew  is  equalled  by  the 
guilt  of  many  calling  themselves  Christians.  But  when 
it  is  remembered  that  there  is  a  sense  in  which  guilt  is 
transmitted  from  age  to  age — that  the  Jews  of  the  pres- 
ent day  are  the  desceiidents  of  those  concerning  whom 
God  declared,  "  Though  Moses  and  Samuel  stood  before 
me,  yet  would  not  my  mind  be  towards  this  people ;" 
and  concerning  whom  the  Saviour  solemnly  affirmed, . 
*'  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  that  upon  you  shall  come  all 
the  righteous  blood  shed  upon  the  earth  ;  from  the  blood 
of  righteous  Abel  unto  the  blood  of  Zacharias  whom 
ye  slew  between  the  temple  and  the  altar:" — when  it 
is  remembered  that  the  Jews  of  that  future  day  will  be 
the  descendents  and  approvers  of  those  who  shouted 
concerning  the  Son  of  God,  ''  Away  with  him  ;  crucify 
him.  His  blood  be  upon  us  and  upon  our  children  ;" 
and  that,  by  their  persevering  unbelief,  generation  after 
generation  have  been  virtually  crucifying  the  Son  of 
God  afresh,  and  putting  him  to  an  open  shame — when 
this  is  remembered,  how  amazing  appears  that  exercise 
of  mercy  which  is  to  cancel  so  mountainous  an  accumu- 
lation of  guilt! 

Who  has  not  been  melted  by  that  Divine  compas- 
sion which  moved  the  heart  of  Jesus  when  he  wept 
over  the  guilty  city  thirsting  for  his  blood  ;  and  which 
led  him  to  save  his  latest  breath  to  pray  for  his  mur- 
derers, "  Father,   forgive  them ;  for   they   know   not 


120  THE  CONVERSION  OF  THE  JEWS  : 

what  they  do  ?"  And  how  amazing  the  grace  which 
led  him  as  soon  as  he  arose,  and  while  their  eyes  were 
yet  gleaming  with  the  fire  of  triumphant  revenge,  to 
charge  his  apostles  to  hasten  and  open  the  charier  of 
redemption  first  within  sight  of  Calvary  !  Surely, 
we  might  have  said,  surely  if  it  is  ever  proclaimed  to 
them,  it  will  not  be  until  it  has  been  first  offered  to  all 
the  Gentile  world.  But  who  can  calculate  the  course 
of  his  grace  ?  for,  behold,  he  sends  his  Gospel  to  Je- 
rusalem first !  Who  can  calculate  the  course  of  his 
grace  ?  for,  behold,  when  his  Gospel  shall  have  made 
the  circuit  of  the  world,  he  will  offer  it,  in  all  its  orig- 
inal plenitude  of  grace,  to  the  Jews  again  !  He  will 
more  than  offer  it :  he  will  constrain  them  to  accept  it. 
As  if  his  blood  had  only  just  been  shed,  he  will  con- 
vince them  that  the  lapse  of  time  has  left  its  efficacy 
unimpaired — "  that  his  blood  still  cleanseth  from  all 
sin."  As  if  he  had  only  just  begun  to  reign,  and 
reigned  for  them  alone  ;  he  will  shower  his  gifts  upon 
them,  "  granting  repentance  unto  Israel,  and  the  re- 
mission of  all  their  sins."  And,  oh !  when  the  en- 
lightening Spirit  shall  have  laid  open  the  whole  truth 
to  their  contemplation — when  they  shall  recognise  in 
him  whom  their  fathers  crucified  the  promised  Mes- 
siah— when  they  shall  look  upon  him  whom  they  have 
pierced  ;  what  meltings,  what  deep  relentings  of  heart 
shall  ensue  !  "  They  shall  mourn,  as  one  mourneth 
for  an  only  son,  and  be  in  bitterness  as  one  that  is  in 
bitterness  for  his  first-born."  When  they  shall  see 
that  they  owe  their  forgiveness  to  that  blood  which  they 
invoked  in  guilty  imprecations  on  their  own  heads ; 
when  gathering  by  faith  around  his  cross  they  shall 
remember  that  they  esteemed  him  "  stricken,  smitten 
of  God,  and  afliicted  ;"  but  shall  then  see,  and  shall 
say,  "  He  was  wounded  for  our  transgressions,  bruised 
for  our  iniquities,  the  "chastisement  of  our  peace  was 
upon  him,  and  with  his  stripes  we  are  healed  ;" — what 
all-subduing  views  will  they  obtain  of  the  prevalence 
of  his  intercession,  of  the  unchangeableness  and  riches 
of  his  grace ! 


A  SERMON.  121 

3.  We  are  to  believe,  too,  that  this  change  will  take 
place  at  such  a  period  in  the  history  of  the  Jeivs^  as 
shall  still  further  redound  to  the  glory  of  God.  There 
is  a  fulness  of  time  for  it.  And  as  the  coming  of 
Christ  in  the  flesh  took  place  at  a  crisis  when  the  state 
of  the  world  demonstrated  the  necessity  of  his  advent, 
and  displayed  its  grace,  so  doubtless  will  be  his  coming 
in  the  conversion  of  the  Jews.  Probably  they  will 
have  reached  the  last  stage  of  guilty  unbelief ;  or  they 
will  be  sorely  pressed  by  evils  from  without ;  or,  aban- 
doning all  expectation  of  ever  beholding  their  Messiah, 
they  will  have  said,  "  There  is  no  hope,"  and  will  have 
given  themselves  up  to  despair  ;  or  all  these  forms  of 
evil  will  have  combined  in  one.  This  we  know,  that 
the  design  of  the  whole  Gospel  constitution  is  that  no 
flesh  should  glory  in  his  presence  ;  that  the  inscription 
on  the  topstone  of  the  fabric  will  be,  "  To  the  praise 
of  the  glory  of  his  grace."  And  we  may  rest  assured 
that  this  important  part  of  the  Divine  dispensations 
will  harmonize  with  the  whole  ;  that  even  the  time 
selected  for  it  will  say  more  emphatically  than  words, 
"  Not  for  your  sakes  do  I  this,  O  house  of  Israel,  but 
for  my  holy  name's  sake.  I,  even  I,  am  he  that  blotteth 
out  thy  transgressions  for  mine  own  sake" — from 
self-derived  and  sovereign  grace — "  and  will  no  more 
remember  thy  sins." 

4.  In  harmony  with  the  spiritual  and  Divine  charac- 
ter of  this  event,  will  be  the  means  or  manner  of  its 
accomplishment.  "  For  it  is  written,  I  will  destroy  the 
wisdom  of  the  wise,  and  will  bring  to  nothing  the  un- 
derstanding of  the  prudent."  Not  indeed  that  all 
means  will  be  dispensed  with.  This  would  be  a  de- 
parture from  the  usual  course  of  the  Divine  Procedure. 
But  those  employed  shall  be  of  so  humble  a  character, 
and  the  success  attending  them  shall  so  far  exceed  all 
human  calculation,  as  to  furnish  the  most  glorious  ex- 
position of  the  words,  "  Not  by  might,  nor  by  power, 
but  by  my  Spirit,  saiih  the  Lord."  Ask  you  the  rea- 
son for  this  ?  "  That  men  may  see,  and  know,  and 
consider,  and  understand   together,  that  the  hand  of 


122  THE  CONVERSION  OF  THE  JEWS  : 

the  Lord  hath  done  this,  and  the  Holy  One  of  Israel 
hath  created  it." 

5.  And  then  another  element  of  the  glory  which 
will  redound  to  God  from  this  spiritual  revolution 
will  be  found  in  the  number  of  the  converted,  A 
few  here  and  there  will  doubtless  be  renewed,  from 
time  to  time,  prior  to  that  period.  And  even  then  the 
change  may  not  be  universal.  But  still  it  will  be  so 
general  as  to  satisfy  the  large  prediction  that  "  all  Is- 
rael shall  be  saved."  "  Fear  not,  saith  God,  for  I  am 
with  thee  :  I  will  bring  thy  seed  from  the  east,  and 
gather  them  from  the  west.  I  will  say  to  the  north, 
Give  up  ;  and  to  the  south,  keep  not  back ;  bring  my 
sons  from  far,  and  my  daughters  from  the  ends  of  the 
earth ;  every  one  that  is  called  by  my  name,  whom  I 
have  created  for  my  glory."  And  they  shall  come 
from  the  east  and  from  the  west,  from  the  north  and 
from  the  south,  to  swear  allegiance  to  the  cross  of 
Christ.  And,  oh !  if  when  the  "  apostles  and  breth- 
ren that  were  in  Judea  heard  that  the  Gentiles  had  also 
received  the  Word  of  God,  they  glorified  God,  saying, 
Then  hath  God  also  to  the  Gentiles  granted  repent- 
ance unto  life  ;"  what  joy  will  seize  the  Gentile 
Church  when  it  shall  be  announced,  "  Then  hath  God 
also  to  the  Jews  granted  repentance  unto  life,"  and 
they  have  at  length  embraced  the  mighty  grant !  And 
if  there  is  joy  in  heaven  among  the  angels  of  God 
over  one  sinner  that  repenteth,  who  can  conceive  the 
rapture  which  shall  thrill  the  ranks  of  the  seraphim 
when  it  shall  be  there  proclaimed,  "  All  Israel  is 
saved !" 

V.  And  this  reminds  us  of  the  further  accession  of 
glory  to  God  from  the  conversion  of  the  Jews,  result- 
ing from  the  effects  of  the  event  upon  others.  For 
what  an  unsurpassable  proof  will  it  furnish  of  the  Di- 
vinity of  the  whole  scheme  of  revelation  !  As  the  out- 
pouring of  the  Spirit  upon  the  Jews  on  the  day  of  Pen- 
tecost was  reserved  by  God  for  the  Crowning  proof 
of  the  new  economy  ;  so  the  greater  effusion  of  the 
same  Spirit,  upon  the  same  people,  is  reserved  to  com- 


A    SERMON.  123 

plete  the  proof  of  its  claims,  as  it  draws  towards  a 
close.  Sufficient  and  superabundant  as  the  evidences 
of  its  Divinity  already  are,  God  is  still  holding  in  store 
a  concluding  proof  which  shall  eclipse  the  lustre  of  all 
that  have  gone  before.  For  the  conversion  of  the 
Jews  will  exhibit  a  scene  in  which  every  event  will  be 
seen  to  be  the  providential  issue  of  a  train  of  circum- 
stances laid  ages  before — every  movement,  the  fulfil- 
ment of  an  ancient  prophecy — every  occurrence  in- 
vested with  a  supernatural  aspect ;  a  scene  which  shall 
silence  the  sceptic,  and  carry  the  judgment  of  the  in- 
quiring, even  though  it  fail  to  win  their  hearts. 

What  an  unsurpassable  proof  will  that  event  display 
of  the  all-sufficiency  of  the  grace  of  God  !  At  the 
opening  of  the  Christian  economy,  the  conversion  of 
Saul  of  Tarsus  seems  to  have  been  designed — indeed, 
he  himself  declares,  "  For  this  cause  I  obtained  mercy, 
that  in  me  first  Jesus  Christ  might  show  forth  all  long- 
suffering,  for  a  pattern  to  them  who  should  hereafter 
believe  on  him  to  life  everlasting."  In  a  similar  man- 
ner God  appears  to  be  reserving  the  richest  display  of 
his  saving  grace  till  towards  the  last.  For  in  the  con- 
version of  the  Jews  he  will  be  seen  concentrating  his 
Divine  regards  on  a  people  who  had  come  to  concen- 
trate in  themselves  the  worst  elements  of  rebellion 
against  him ;  doing  this  at  the  very  time  when  they 
had  reached  the  last  stage  of  hopeless  depravity — sus- 
pending over  them  a  cloud  charged  with  showers  of 
blessing,  at  the  moment  when  they  might  have  looked 
for  a  cloud  showing  the  very  blackness  of  darkness, 
and  stored  with  all  the  materials  of  wrath  ;  and,  amaz- 
ing wonder  !  making  the  death  of  Christ — the  very  act 
which  seemed  to  complete  their  guilt  and  to  seal  their 
doom — the  reason  of  their  forgiveness,  the  pledge  of 
their  complete  salvation. 

What  an  impulse  too  will  he  given  to  the  piety  of 
every  part  of  the  Christian  Church  !  "  For  if  the  fall 
of  the  Jews  be  the  riches  of  the  world,  and  the  dimin- 
ishing of  them  the  riches  of  the  Gentiles ;  how  much 
more  their  fulness."     The  newly  converted  Jews  will 


124  THE  CONVERSION  OF  THE  JEWS  I 

probably  exhibit  a  measure  of  self-denying  zeal  for 
the  glory  of  God,  which  the  Church  had  come  to  con- 
sider absolutely  impracticable.  For  "  he  that  is  feeble 
among  them  at  that  day  shall  be  as  David ;  and  the 
house  of  David  shall  be  as  God,  as  the  angel  of  the 
Lord  before  them."  Fired  with  the  emulation  of  their 
example,  the  entire  Church  shall  be  seen  girding  up 
the  loins  of  its  mind,  and  kindling  its  lamp  at  the  altar 
of  their  piety.  New  meaning  shall  be  seen  in  every 
statement*  of  the  Word  of  God  ;  new  value  attached  to 
every  thing  that  can  advance  his  glory  ;  new  energy 
be  felt  in  the  powers  of  the  world  to  come.  Churches 
before  comparatively  dead  shall  be  aroused  to  newness 
of  life ;  the  great  experiment  shall  be  made  of  ascer- 
taining how  much  prayer  can  effect  for  the  conversion 
of  the  world  ;  and  while  the  church  is,  with  one  voice, 
crying,  "  Come  from  the  four  winds,  O  breath,  and 
breathe  upon  these  slain  that  they  may  live,"  the  great 
valley  of  spiritual  death  shall  exhibit  the  symptoms  of 
returning  life.  "  For  if  the  casting  away  of  the  Jews 
be  the  reconciling  of  the  world,  what  shall  the  receiv- 
ing of  them  be  but  life  from  the  dead  ?" 

How  eminently  will  this  reanimation  and  increase  of 
the  Church  tend  to  the  union  of  all  its  parts.  That 
most  ancient  of  all  schisms,  between  Jew  and  Gentile, 
shall  then  be  healed.  "  For  in  Christ  Jesus  there  is 
neither  Jew  nor  Greek  !"  the  Jew  shall  have  become  a 
Christian  ;  and  the  Christian  an  Israelite  indeed.  Ev- 
ery minor  distinction  in  the  Church  shall  cease ;  or 
shall  remain  only  to  show  the  strength  of  the  love 
which  unites  all  its  parts  into  one.  And  thus  it  will  be 
seen  that  an  important  step  has  been  gained  towards 
the  attainment  of  the  purpose  "  which  God  hath  pur- 
posed in  himself,  that  in  the  dispensation  of  the  ful- 
ness of  times,  he  might  gather  together  in  one  all 
things  in  Christ." 

And  will  not — must  not  all  this  inconceivably  aug* 
ment  the  joy  of  the  Church  7  Every  ancient  interpo- 
sition of  God  on  behalf  of  his  peculiar  people  called 
forth  the  loftiest  flights  of  sacred  poetry.     But  all  these 


A    SERMON.  185 

are  deemed  inadequate  to  the  celebration  of  their  final 
recovery.  The  powers  of  language  are  to  be  taxed  as 
they  had  never  been  before.  A  new  song  is  to  be 
raised  more  worthy  of  the  greatness  of  the  occasion. 
"  Sing  to  Jehovah  a  new  song  ;  his  praise  from  the  end 
of  the  earth."  The  very  site  of  the  ancient  city  is 
urged  to  join  in  the  sacred  strain  :  "  Break  forth  into 
joy,  sing  together,  ye  waste  places  of  Jerusalem  :  for 
the  Lord  hath  comforted  his  people,  he  hath  redeemed 
Jerusalem.  The  Lord  hath  made  bare  his  holy  arm 
in  the  eyes  of  all  the  nations ;  and  all  the  ends  of  the 
earth  shall  see  the  salvation  of  our  God."  Even  inan- 
imate nature  is  summoned  to  share  in  the  joy,  and  to 
assist  in  the  praise  :  "  Sing,  O  ye  heavens !  for  the 
Lord  hath  done  it ;  shout,  ye  lower  parts  of  the  earth ; 
break  forth  into  singing,  ye  mountains  ;  O  forest !  and 
every  tree  therein  :  for  the  Lord  hath  redeemed  Jacob, 
and  glorified  himself  in  Israel."  And  amidst  this  gen- 
eral concert,  in  which  every  object  shall  find  a  voice 
and  take  a  part,  will  the  redeemed  people  themselves 
be  silent  ?  A  part  of  their  song  is  already  prepared  : 
"  I  will  greatly  rejoice  in  the  Lord,  my  soul  shall  be 
joyful  in  my  God ;  for  he  hath  clothed  me  with  the 
garments  of  salvation ;  he  hath  covered  me  with  the 
robe  of  righteousness."  Indeed,  that  nothing  may  be 
wanting  to  heighten  our  conceptions  of  the  sacredness 
and  sublimity  of  that  joy,  God  himself  is  represented 
as  anticipating  it  with  delight,  and  as  calling  on  the 
universe  to  share  in  his  Divine  exultation  ;  "  For,  be- 
hold, I  create  new  heavens  and  a  new  earth  :  and  the 
former  shall  not  be  remembered,  nor  come  into  mind. 
But  be  ye  glad  and  rejoice  for  ever  in  that  which  I 
create  :  for,  behold,  I  create  Jerusalem  a  rejoicing,  and 
her  people  a  joy.  And  I  will  rejoice  in  Jerusalem, 
and  joy  in  my  people."  In  that  joy  of  the  Re- 
deemer there  will  be  a  depth  and  a  peculiarity  which 
no  creature  will  be  able  to  share.  When  he  shall  see 
of  the  travail  of  his  soul  in  their  conversion,  in  how  pe- 
culiar a  sense  will  he  be  satisfied !  When  he  who 
once  wept  over  them  bitter  tears,  shall  behold  them 


126  THE  CONVERSION  OF  THE  JEWS  : 

prostrate  in  penitence  at  his  feet ; — when  he  whom 
they  affixed  to  the  accursed  tree,  shall  hehold  them 
embracing  that  cross  and  exulting,  "  God  forbid  that 
we  should  glory  save  in  the  cross  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,"  he  will  be  conscious  of  a  satisfaction  which 
shall  fill  even  his  capacity  for  enjoyment. 

Brethren,  the  glory  of  the  Lord  is  yet  to  be  reveal- 
ed. Would  you  reflect  a  portion  of  its  radiance  ? 
"  We  beseech  you,  by  the  mercies  of  God,  that  ye 
present  your  bodies  a  living  sacrifice."  No  mere  out- 
ward homage — no  ecclesiastical  relations,  will  suffice. 
Confidence  in  these  was  the  secret  of  Israel's  fall. 
And  "  if  God  spared  not  the  natural  branches,  take 
heed  lest  he  also  spare  not  thee."  Would  you  pro- 
mote the  glory  of  God  in  their  recovery  ?  Seek  the 
conversion  of  all  around  you.  Aim  at  the  recovery 
of  the  world.  For  know,  that  the  progress  of  the  mis- 
sionary cause  hastens  the  time  of  Israel's  conversion ; 
for  "  blindness  in  part  is  happened  to  Israel,  until  the 
fulness  of  the  Gentiles  be  come  in.  And  so  all  Israel 
shall  be  saved."  Would  you  accelerate  the  arrival  of 
that  blessed  day  ?  Then  "  pray  for  the  peace  of  Jeru- 
salem." Resolve,  "  for  Zion's  sake  will  I  not  hold 
my  peace,  and  for  Jerusalem's  sake  I  will  not  rest, 
until  the  rigteousness  thereof  go  forth  as  brightness, 
and  the  salvation  thereof  as  a  lamp  that  burneth." 
You  could  not  employ  means  more  appropriate  to  the 
Divine  greatness  than  to  cry  daily,  "  O  that  the  salva- 
tion of  God  were  come  out  of  Zion  !"  The  Churches 
of  Christ  generally  could  not  unite  for  a  more  worthy 
object  than  to  send  up  the  earnest  invocation,  "  O  arm 
of  the  Lord,  awake,  awake  !"  for  thine  ancient  peo- 
ple. The  prayer  would  be  music  in  the  ear  of  God  ; 
and  would  bring  a  blessing  on  those  who  offered  it. 

Finally,  would  you  sympathize"  with  and  appreciate 
the  glory  which  shall  redound  to  God  from  Israel's 
conversion  ?  Cultivate  the  humble  and  adoring  spirit 
of  the  apostle  in  relation  to  it.  Your  own  history  ex- 
hibits an  epitome  of  the  Divine  conduct  towards  Israel. 
The  history  of  the  Jews  is  but  an  epitome  of  the  Divine 


A    ^RMON.  127 

conduct  towards  the  human  race — conduct  which  is 
destined  to  fill  the  universe  with  his  praise.  For  what 
is  the  nature  of  that  glory  which  is  to  accrue  to  God 
from  their  conversion  ?  Is  it  not  the  glory  of  a  power 
which  has  carried  them  successfully  for  ages  through 
every  annihilating  process  that  could  assail  them — the 
glory  of  a  wisdom  which  saw  the  end  from  the  begin- 
ning, arranging  and  foretelling  the  entire  plan — of  a 
benevolence  which  resisted  every  kind  of  provocation 
to  destroy  them,  pressed  into  its  service  every  adverse 
influence,  and  illustrated  every  great  principle  of  moral 
government  in  a  manner  directly  tending  to  their  high- 
est welfare — of  a  mercy  which  after  following  them 
nearly  through  all  time,  and  through  all  lands,  takes 
them,  with  all  their  accumulated  guilt  and  depravity, 
and  erects  them  into  a  monument  of  his  saving  grace — 
and  the  glory  of  making  this  dispensation  the  occasion 
of  further  joy  to  the  Church,  and  of  the  greatest  good 
to  the  world  ?  In  a  word,  it  will  be  the  glory  of  Divine 
all-sufliciency  receiving  from  them  at  length  the  hom- 
age of  creature  dependence.  And  so  deep  w^ill  be 
their  conviction  of  that  dependence,  and  so  vast  the 
views  of  that  all-suflniciency  which  their  history  shall 
afford,  that  language  will  fail  to  describe  or  record 
them.  And  what  a  subject  for  contemplation  to  the 
minds  of  the  blessed  !  Once,  says  the  Apostle  John, 
on  the  opening  of  the  seventh  seal,  "  there  was  silence 
in  heaven  about  the  space  of  half-an-hour  ;" — that 
was  a  pause  of  breathless  suspense  prior  to  a  tremen- 
dous discharge  of  wrath.  But  when  by  this  splendid 
display  of  mercy,  the  principalities  and  powers  in 
heavenly  places,  shall  behold  the  manifold  wisdom  of 
God,  surely  the  silence  of  wonder  will  again  ensue — a 
silence  during  which  every  face  will  be  veiled,  every 
worshipper  prostrate,  every  heart  filled  with  mental 
adoration — a  silence  from  which  they  shall  recover  only 
to  utter  the  language  of  awful  delight,  "  Oh  the  depths 
of  the  riches  both  of  the  wisdom  and  knowledge  of 
God." 

Brethren,  the  tendency  of  all  his  dispensations,  from 


128  THE  CONVERSION 'OF  THE  JEWS. 

first  to  last,  is  essentially  the  same.  And  never  will 
they  know  a  pause,  till  this  end  be  gained.  Then  man 
will  have  found  his  proper  place — the  only  spot  in  the 
universe  which  becomes  him — at  the  feet  of  God. 
Then  God  will  have  recovered  his  proper  glory — every 
rival  power  will  be  cast  out — the  eyes  of  all  will  wait 
upon  him — he  will  be  seen  by  the  universe  as  the  cen- 
tre and  stay  of  a  dependent  world.  Then  the  design 
of  the  great  constitution  of  mercy  will  be  completed — 
the  wise  man  shall  no  longer  glory  in  his  wisdom,  nor 
the  rich  in  his  riches,  nor  the  strong  in  his  strength — 
the  only  glory  left  will  be  the  high  glory  of  depend- 
ence on  God — everything  will  be  seen  to  have  redound- 
ed to  the  glory  of  his  grace  alone.  And  when  all 
flesh  shall  thus  be  seen  prostrate  before  God,  what  will 
it  be  but  a  prelude  to  the  worship  of  heaven  ;  what 
will  remain  but  that  the  whole  should  be  transferred  to 
the  employment  of  praise  above  !  And  as  the  right- 
eous at  length  shall  go  away  into  everlasting  life — as 
the  nations  of  them  that  are  saved  shall  "  pass  through 
the  gates  into  the  city,"  what  more  appropriate  inscrip- 
tion for  the  triumphal  arch  which  shall  receive  them 
than  this,  "  Of  him,  and  through  him,  and  to  him,  are 
all  things  ;  to  him  be  glory  for  ever.  Amen  !"  Be  this 
our  sentiment  in  life,  in  death,  and  for  ever. 


PRAYER  FOR  CHRIST: 
A  SERMON 

ON    BEHALF   OF    THE    WESLEYAN  BIISSIONARY    SOCIETY,* 

DELIVERED    AT    THE    CITY    ROAD    CHAPEL, 

LONDON,   APRIL    30,    1837. 

Prayer  also  shall  be  made  for  him  continually.    Psalm  Ixxii.  15. 

David,  having  received  certain  premonitions  of  his  ap- 
proaching end,  had  now  resigned  the  throne  of  Israel 
to  Solomon  his  son ;  the  elders  and  nobles  of  the  land 
had  recognized  and  had  sanctioned  the  change.  Trans- 
ported with  joy  at  the  event,  he  pours  out  his  soul  in 
prayer  for  the  youthful  king  and  the  subject  people. 
But,  "  behold,  a  greater  than  Solomon  is  here."  Wrapt 
in  a  divine  enthusiasm,  the  psalmist  ascends  to  a  loftier 
theme,  and  sings  the  glory  of  Messiah,  and  the  mag- 
nificence of  his  future  reign. 

The  text  is  a  prediction,  reminding  us,  in  the  first 
place,  that  the  Bible  is  distinguished  from  every  other 
hook^  professedly  divine^  by  the  grandeur^  and  authori- 
ty^ and  tone  of.  its  promises^  and  by  the  multitude  and 
splendour  of  its  predictions.  Human  philosophy  may 
be  said  to  have  had  three  creeds,  which  might  not  im- 
properly be  distinguished  as  the  creed  of  the  past,  of 
the  present,  and  of  the  future.  The  books  of  Pagan 
antiquity  sung  only  of  the  golden  age  past — of  scenes 
of  pastoral  simplicity  and  happiness  never  to  return, 

*  It  may,  perhaps,  be  desirable  to  inform  the  reader  that  on  the  last 
aabbath  in  every  successive  April,  sermons  on  behalf  of  Christian  Mi«- 
sions  are  delivered  in  each  of  the  Wesley  an  Methodist  chapels  in  London 
9 


130  ^PRAYER   FOR    CHRIST: 

while  for  the  future  they  could  say  nothing — their  bur- 
den was  despair.  Then  came  the  creed  of  the  pres- 
ent. As  early  antiquity  faded  from  view,  man  became 
prepared  for  the  philosophy  of  Epicurus,  for  the  Op- 
timism, which  professes  to  be  satisfied  with  things  as 
they  are,  and  which,  instead  of  aiming  at  human  im- 
provement, acts  on  the  animal  maxim,  "  Let  us  eat 
and  drink,  for  to-morrow  we  die."  But  to  this  has 
now  generally  succeeded  the  creed  of  the  future,  a 
philosophical  belief  in  the  perfectibility  of  the  species, 
a  persuasion  that  man  is  at  length  on  the  high  road  to 
perfection.  Now  it  would  be  easy  to  show,  that  each 
of  these  views  is  only  a  perversion  of  some  funda- 
mental truth  contained  in  the  Bible  ;  but  then  it  will 
be  found,  that  in  the  Bible  those  truths  exist  in  combi- 
nation, and  that  every  thing,  which  is  there  said  of  the 
past  or  of  the  present,  is  said  expressly  for  the  sake  of 
the  future.  Thus  the  contentment  with  the  present, 
which  is  inculcated,  is  not  that  kind  of  satisfaction, 
which  hopes  and  asks  for  nothing  better,  but  that  which 
springs  from  a  comprehensive  view  of  the  divine  plans 
for  the  renovation  of  the  world,  which  admires  those 
plans  as  the  wisest  and  the  best,  and  which  thus  pre- 
pares us  to  be  patient  and  persevering  instruments 
in  the  hand  of  God  for  their  fulfilment.  Then  again, 
if  the  Bible  tells  of  the  past,  if  it  sings  of  a  "  para- 
dise lost,"  it  is  only  to  prepare  us  to  hear  of  a  bet- 
ter "  paradise  regained."  Yes,  the  Bible  is  the 
true  and  perfect  hope  ;  it  builds  on  the  future,  and  the 
chorus  of  all  its  songs  is  of  a  glory  yet  to  come. 

But  if  (it  may  be  said)  human  philosophy  is  begin- 
ning to  calculate  on  the  future,  it  is  at  length  moving 
in  harmony  with  the   word  of  God.     This,  alas !  is 

and  its  vicinity.  These  engagements  form  a  portion  of  the  Missionary 
services,  celebrated  at  that  season  of  the  year.  Dr.  Harris  had  delivered 
his  sermon  called  "  The  Witnessing  Church,"  at  Queen  Street,  on  the 
preceding  Friday,  and  in  conformity  with  the  customary  arrangement 
that  the  preacher  at  Queen  Street,  on  the  Friday,  should  officiate  at  the 
City  Road  chapel  on  the  follow^ing  Lord's  day  morning,  he  preached  there 
the  sermon  now  under  the  eye  of  the  reader.— Ed. 


A    SERMON.  IS^I 

but  very  partially  true.  The  church  and  the  world 
are  indeed  looking  in  the  same  direction,  but  far  difTer- 
ent  is  the  result  they  aim  at.  And  as  to  the  means, 
on  which  they  chiefly  rely,  they  essentially  disagree. 

For,  secondly,  the  text  reminds  us,  that  one  of  the 
means  ivhich  the  church  is  to  employ  for  the  attainment 
of  the  desired  result^  is  prayer.  Now  here  we  are  at 
issue  with  a  skeptical  philosophy  at  the  very  outset : 
for,  while  that  philosophy  would  object  to  prayer,  as 
inconsistent  with  the  doctrine  of  the  divine  unchange- 
ableness,  we  not  only  employ  it — but  rely  on  it ;  we 
even  rely  on  it,  in  the  order  of  means,  as  the  first ; 
and  according  to  the  text  we  are  to  employ  it  continu- 
ally, never  to  allow  the  instrument  to  pass  out  of  our 
hands  for  a  moment.  We  do  not  say,  that  prayer  has 
any  inherent  efficacy  to  move  God.  Like  every  other 
means,  like  the  food  we  eat,  it  derives  its  efficacy  from 
the  sovereign  appointment  of  God.  But  we  do  say, 
that  prayer  is  a  condition,  on  which  it  seems  good  to 
God  to  put  forth  his  power.  We  do  say,  that  we  can 
conceive  of  certain  reasons,  which  may  make  it  agree- 
able to  perfect  wisdom  to  grant  that  to  prayer,  which 
it  may  not  seem  agreeable  to  grant  in  the  absence  of 
prayer.  And  beyond  this,  we  would  remind  the  ob- 
jector, that,  clearly  as  the  law  of  the  divine  unchange- 
ableness  may  be  revealed  in  the  Bible,  (and  it  is  only 
from  the  Bible  that  he  can  have  learnt  it,)  the  law  that 
prayer  prevails  with  God  is  revealed,  if  possible,  more 
clearly  and  convincingly  still ;  so  that  the  question 
will  be,  will  he  wisely  embrace  both  those  laws,  and 
confidently  leave  it  to  God  to  reconcile  them  with  his 
own  divine  consistency — or,  if  he  adopts  only  one, 
which  will  he  take,  the  less  obvious  law,  that  which 
relates  to  the  unfathomable  nature  of  God,  or  the  more 
plain  and  simple  law,  made  in  love  to  man,  that  which 
includes  the  sacred  duty  and  the  ennobling  privilege  of 
prayer  ?  At  all  events,  while  he  is  engaged  in  a  phi- 
losophic endeavour  to  reconcile  prayer  with  his  imper- 
fect views  of  the  divine  consistency,  he  will  allow  us 
to  be  occupied  in  admiration  of  that  divine  condescen- 


132  PEAYER    FOR   CHRIST  : 

sion,  which  has  made  it  both  natural  for  man  to  pray^ 
and  certain  that  scriptural  prayers  shall  be  crowned 
with  success. 

Yes,  we  would  remind  him,  that,  disordered  and 
ruined  as  our  nature  is,  there  are  clear  indications  still, 
that  man  was  originally  made  to  pray.  Foi*  even  they,, 
who  have  practically  renounced  religion,  who  have 
lived  in  the  entire  neglect  of  all  the  various  modes  by 
which  man  approaches  and  addresses  his  Maker,  even 
they  in  the  moment  of  danger  or  suffering,  are  gener- 
ally found  to  call  involuntarily  on  God  for  help.  The 
voice  of  nature  at  such  times  will  speak  out^  will  not 
allow  itself  to  be  smothered  and  silenced  any  longer, 
will  cause  itself  to  be  heard.  Overpow^ering  those 
prejudices  and  that  irreligion,  which  had  hitherto  re- 
pressed it,  it  will  lift  itself  up,  assert  the  promises,  the 
power  and  the  goodness  of  God,  and  earnestly  invoke 
his  favourable  interposition. 

And  we  would  remind  him  also,  that  the  prayer  of 
faith  invariably  succeeds.  If  his  philosophy  be  sound, 
he  will  surely  yield  to  the  power  of  facts  ;  and  if  facts 
can  convince  him,  the  Bible  abounds  with  undeniable 
examples  of  success  in  prayer.  "  Every  one  that 
asketh  receiveth,"  said  Christ,  as  if  he  had  said, 
prayer  has  all  the  certainty  and  universality  of  a  law — 
a  law,  which  can  never  know  an  exception — "  Every 
one  that  asketh  receiveth."  My  brethren,  in  the  whole 
compass  of  divinely-appointed  means,  prayer  oc- 
cupies the  highest  place,  and  possesses  the  mightiest 
efficacy.  And  why  ?  It  passes  by  all  secondary 
means,  and  makes  its  way  straight  to  God ;  it  puts 
aside  every  human  hand  and  goes  at  once  to  the  arm 
of  God,  enters  the  presence  of  the  eternal,  and  makes 
its  appearance  at  his  throne.  There  it  enables  the 
suppliant  to  take  hold  of  the  strength  of  God,  and  in  a 
sense  identifies  him  with  Almighty  power.  Nor  is 
the  efficacy  of  prayer  confined  to  the  suppliant  him- 
self. It  places  him  in  a  new  relation  to  all  around 
him.  Prayer  is  an  invisible  chain,  by  which  he  can 
draw  them  towards  heaven.     It  invests  him  with  an 


A    SERMON.  laS 

indefinite  power  over  the  destiny  and  happiness  of  the 
world  at  large. 

We  repeat,  then,  that  while  the  world  is  at  length 
looking  in  the  same  direction  as  the  church,  far  differ- 
ent are  the  objects  they  aim  at,  and  the  principal 
means  which  they  employ ;  for  while  prayer  is  the 
last  instrument  which  a  skeptical  philosophy  would 
employ,  we  not  only  employ  it  but  rely  on  it.  And 
believing  what  we  do  of  its  power  with  God,  we  should 
be  inconsistent  and  guilty,  if  we  did  not  place  it,  in 
the  order  of  means,  as  first  and  best.  And  believing 
what  we  do  too,  of  the  utter  inefficiency  of  mere  hu- 
man means  to  renovate  the  world,  and  of  the  power 
of  prayer  to  secure  the  omnipotent  aid  of  God,  we  . 
cannot  help  thinking  that  the  time  has  come  when  the 
charge  of  indulging  romantic  views  concerning  the 
future  improvement  of  men  should  be  removed  from 
the  church,  where  it  has  been  so  long  and  so  unjustly 
laid,  and  be  transferred  to  the  world  ;  for  while  the 
world  is  indulging  a  visionary  hope  of  changing  the 
face  of  society  by  mere  human  instrumentality,  the 
church  of  God,  without  abating  a  jot  in  its  laborious 
practical  efforts,  invites  the  Almighty  aid  of  God,  as 
the  only  and  the  all-sufficient  source  of  success. 

But  not  only  does  the  text  predict  a  change,  and 
represent  prayer  as  the  means  of  realizing  that  change  ; 
it  describes  that  prayer^  thirdly,  as  partaking  of  a 
specific  character — prayer  for  Christ.  "  Prayer  alsa 
shall  be  made /or  Aim  continually."  But  what  are  the 
claims  of  Christ  on  the  prayers  of  those,  who  are  seek- 
ing the  happiness  of  the  world  ?  The  propriety  of 
praying  for  the  success  of  another  depends  entirely  on 
the  nature  of  his  undertaking.  Now  the  nature  of  the 
Saviour's  undertaking  is  simply  this  ;  the  world  was 
perishing  in  ignorance — guilt — and  pollution  ;  to  re- 
cover the  knowledge  of  God,  which  it  had  lost,  a  teach- 
er from  heaven  was  necessary  ;  to  expiate  its  guilt,  an 
adequate  atonement  must  be  made  ;  to  cleanse  it  from 
pollution,  a  fountain  must  be  "  opened  for  sin  and  for 
uncleanness  ;"  to  provide  either  of  these  requisites  the 


134  PRAYER  FOR  CHRIST  I 

world  was  as  unable,  as  it  was  indisposed,  and  yet  all  of 
them  must  be  provided,  or  man  must  everlastingly 
perish.  Filled  with  compassion  for  us,  though  we 
were  his  enemies,  the  Son  of  God  descended  from 
heaven  to  do  every  thing  for  us  necessary  to  our  re- 
covery ;  to  become  our  teacher,  he  assumed  our  nature, 
dwelt  amongst  us,  and  spake  as  never  man  spake  ;  to 
expiate  our  guilt,  he  died  in  our  stead  ;  and  to  cleanse 
us  from  the  pollution  of  sin,  he  provided  for  us  the 
agency  of  the  Divine  Spirit.  Having  made  this  ample 
provision  for  the  salvation  of  mankind,  it  now  remains 
that  the  Gospel  be  made  known  and  be  cordially  em- 
braced. The  Almighty  Father  has  promised,  that  in 
reward  for  the  mediation  of  his  well -beloved  Son,  it 
shall  be  made  known  universally,  and  effectually  ap- 
plied ;  "  Ask  of  me  and  I  will  give  thee  the  heathen 
for  thine  inheritance,  and  the  uttermost  parts  of  the 
earth  for  thy  possession  ;"  "  he  shall  see  of  the  travail 
of  his  soul,  and  shall  be  satished."  The  Saviour  de- 
sires to  enjoy  this  reward  ;  he  declares,  that  he  will 
draw  all  men  unto  him,  that  he  will  save  the  very 
ends  of  the  earth.  And  can  you  conceive  of  stronger 
claims  on  our  prayers  than  these  ?  Did  we  consult 
only  the  temporal  welfare  of  man,  the  speediest  and 
the  most  effectual  method  of  promoting  even  .that  would 
be  to  send  them  the  Gospel.  The  history  of  your  own 
mission  demonstrates,  that  nothing  lifts  them  out  of  a 
state  of  barbarism  into  a  state  of  civilization,  so  cer- 
tainly and  so  completely,  as  that ;  it  calls  them  together 
— gives  them  a  sabbath — throws  a  shield  over  their 
property — blesses  them  with  liberty — and  puts  them 
under  the  protection  of  government  and  law  ;  and 
thus  it  lays  the  foundation  of  all  civil  improvement  and 
social  happiness.  But  if  we  design  to  promote  their 
spiritual  welfare,  the  Gospel  is  the  only  means.  Here 
there  can  be  no  competition,  no  rivalry,  no  question. 
The  Gospel  is  the  only  remedy  for  a  perishing  world. 
Compared  with  its  wisdom,  every  other  system  is  fool- 
ishness ;  for  it  is  the  wisdom  of  God.  Compared  with 
its  power  to  sway  the  heart,  every  other  system  is 


A    SERMON.  135 

weakness  ;  for  it  is  the  power  of  God.  Compared  with 
its  truth  and  purity,  its  majesty  and  grace,  Mahometan- 
ism  is  an  imposture  and  a  pollution,  modern  Judaism 
is  a  ceremony  and  a  fable,  Paganism  a  falsehood  and  a 
debasement,  Deism  an  unsubstantial  shadow,  and 
Atheism  a  darkness  and  a  horror.  "  Lord,  to  whom 
shall  we  go  but  unto  thee  ?  Thou  hast  the  words  of 
eternal  life."  Yes,  "  this  is  life  eternal,  to  know  thee 
the  only  true  God,  and  Jesus  Christ  whom  thou  hast 
sent."  This  alone  can  ease  the  conscience  burdened 
with  guilt,  cleanse  the  heart  defiled  with  sin,  wipe  the 
tear  from  the  eye  of  the  mourner,  and  sanctify  and 
conduct  the  soul  to  the  joys  of  heaven.  But  the  Gos- 
pel can  do  this ;  for  it  is  the  revelation  of  one,  whose 
arm  is  Almighty  to  save,  and  whose  heart  has  room 
for  the  world. 

Such — such,  then,  are  the  claims  of  Christ  on  the 
prayers  of  his  people.  He  is  the  healer  of  a  diseased 
and  a  dying  world  ;  and  if  we  have  felt  his  power  to 
save,  he  claims  our  prayers  that  his  "  saving  health 
may  be  known  among  all  nations,"  that  the  heal- 
ing influence  of  the  Gospel,  like  a  healthy  current 
of  vital  air,  may  sweep  over  the  spiritual  sickness  of 
the  world,  imparting  life,  and  health,  and  universal 
happiness.  He  is  the  champion  of  our  race,  who  has 
espoused  our  cause  against  sin,  and  death  and  hell. 
And  shall  not  this  be  our  ardent  prayer — "  Gird  thy 
sword  upon  thy  thigh,  O  most  mighty,  with  thy  glory 
and  thy  majesty,  and  in  thy  majesty  ride  prosperously 
because  of  truth,  and  meekness  and  righteousness  ; 
and  thy  right  hand  shall  teach  thee  terrible  things  ?" 

And  here,  in  the  fourth  place,  let  us  mark  and  admire 
the  wisdom  and  grace  of  the  arrangement^  which  makes 
it  our  duty  to  seek  the  salvation  of  the  world  in  this 
specific  manner^  hy  prayers  for  the  prosperity  of  the 
reign  of  Christ.  There  is  wisdom  in  the  arrange- 
ment, which  makes  missionary  success  to  depend  on 
prayer  in  general.  It  brings  us  to  the  one  spot,  and 
keeps  us  in  our  only  proper  place  in  the  universe,  at 
the  feet  of  God  ;  it  tends  to  annihilate  self,  amounts  to 


136  PRAYER    FOR    CHRIST  : 

a  confession  of  our  utter  dependence,  renders  appro- 
priate homage  to  his  grace,  and  thus  keeps  us  in  active 
and  constant  communication  with  the  fountain  of  all 
grace.  But  by  calling  us  to  his  footstool,  to  pray 
specifically  for  the  reign  of  Christ,  he  is  giving  us  an 
opportunity  of  avowing  afresh  our  admiration  of  the 
scheme  of  redemption  by  Christ.  To  offer  up  such  a 
prayer  is  to  say  in  effect,  that  we  ourselves  have  made 
proof  of  the  cross  of  Christ,  that  we  believe  there  is 
no  hope  for  the  world  but  through  that  cross,  and  that 
so  satisfied  are  we  of  its  healing  efficacy,  that,  were 
all  the  world  to  feel  its  power,  all  the  world  would  be 
saved,  and  heaven  begin  on  earth.  Now  to  say  this  is 
at  once  to  gratify  the  love  of  the  Christian  and  the  very 
heart  of  God. 

By  this  arrangement,  too,  the  suppliant  is  afforded 
the  strongest  assurance  of  success  in  prayer.  God  is 
not  unfrequently  pleased  to  be  found,  even  of  them 
that  sought  him  not ;  when,  therefore,  we  do  seek 
him,  we  may  calculate  on  his  hearing  us,  with  the  ut- 
most certainty.  But  when  we  apply  to  him  on  the 
behalf  of  the  reign  of  Christ,  the  certainty  of  being  heard 
is,  if  possible,  increased.  The  cause  of  Christ  lies  infi- 
nitely nearer  to  his  heart,  than  it  does — than  it  can  do 
to  ours.  It  is  the  cause,  which  his  own  compassion 
prompted,  and  his  own  wisdom  devised.  It  is  the 
cause,  with  which  he  has  bound  up  his  own  glory,  on 
which  he  has  lavished  the  resources  of  heaven,  and  to 
the  success  of  which  he  has  pledged  every  perfection 
of  his  nature.  So  that  in  praying  on  the  behalf  of 
Christ,  the  believer  is  taking  his  stand  on  the  immu- 
table covenant  of  God  ;  he  prays  with  the  force  of  an 
Almighty  decree  ;  he  puts  his  hand  to  the  propulsion 
of  a  cause,  which  is  destined  to  move  forward  with  the 
force  of  Omnipotence. 

And  by  this  arrangement,  too,  every  believer,  the 
poorest  and  the  obscurest,  is  afforded  an  opportunity  of 
indulging  supreme  love  to  Christ,  by  aiding  the  ad- 
vancement of  his  kingdom.  "  To  them  that  believe, 
he  is  precious,"  so  precious,  that  in  their  holiest  and 


A  SERMON.  137 

happiest  moments,  they  feel  as  if  every  mode  of  ex- 
pression, which  they  at  present  possess,  were  inade- 
quate ;  as  if  they  must  wait  for  the  perfection  of  heav- 
en, and  the  duration  of  eternity,  hefore  they  begin  to 
praise.  But  few  and  slender  as  are  the  most  ample 
resources,  we  may  now  possess,  for  shewing  our  sense 
of  obligation  to  Christ,  the  great  proportion  of  believers 
have  to  deplore,  how  truly  small  the  gift  they  can  lay 
on  his  altar,  how  little  the  time  which  they  can  give  to 
his  service,  how  circumscribed  the  influence  which 
their  obscurity  of  station  permits  them  to  exert  for  his 
glory.  Christian,  the  throne  of  grace  is  open,  open  to 
you,  open  to  all.  Wise  and  gracious  arrangement ! 
Here,  you  may  say,  nere  I  can  gratify  my  love  to 
Christ,  and  give  a  loose  to  all  the  ardour  of  my  soul ; 
poor  I  may  be  in  the  world's  account,  but  here  I  can 
pour  out  at  his  feet  the  wealth  of  my  affections  ;  busy 
I  may  be  in  the  service  of  man,  but  here  I  can  repair 
in  thought  and  desire  to  serve  him  continually  ;  and 
let  my  influence  with  man  be  as  limited  as  it  may,  here 
I  can  come  and  have  "  power  with  God."  While 
others  are  engaged  in  pleading  for  Christ  with  men, 
here  I  can  plead  for  Christ  with  God  ;  here  I  can  vie 
with  an  apostle  ;  while  a  Paul  is  planting,  and  an 
ApoUos  is  watering,  here  I  can  aid  them  both  by 
bringing  down  the  increase.  Yes,  here  all  may  assist, 
the  youngest  and  the  eldest,  the  poorest  and  most  ob- 
scure. To  serve  the  church  by  munificent  gifts  and 
splendid  talents  is  not  within  the  compass  of  your 
power,  nor  can  you,  perhaps,  benefit  the  world  by 
going  forth  to  proclaim  the  Gospel  :  but  the  tear  of 
the  closet,  the  sigh  of  sorrow  over  the  guilt  of  the 
world,  the  secret  prayer  for  the  reign  of  Christ — these 
are  within  your  scope  ;  and  these  are  the  elements  of 
missionary  success.  By  these  you  can  touch  the 
spring  and  source  of  all  motion,  and  on  that  depends 
the  final  realization  of  our  hopes  in  the  conversion  of 
the  heathen  to  the  faith  of  Christ. 

But  let  us  regard  the  special  object  of  our  prayer  in 
the   behalf  of  Christ.     What   are   we    to   pray   for  ? 


138  PRAYER   FOR  CHRIST  : 

Our  prayers  cannot  be  necessary  for  him,  in  the  same 
sense,  in  which  they  are  necessary  for  ourselves  and  for 
each  other  ;  he  knows  no  want,  for  all  things  are  given 
into  his  hand  ;  he  is  no  more  the  subject  of  pain,  for  he 
is  not  only  ineffably  happy  in  himself,  but  also  the 
fountain  of  happiness  to  all  the  inhabitants  of  the 
heavenly  world ;  he  is  infinitely  removed  beyond  the 
reach  of  danger  or  of  death,  for,  as  the  King  of  Zion, 
he  exercises  uncontrolled  dominion  over  the  universe. 
Personally  considered,  therefore,  he  is  quite  independ- 
ent of  our  prayers  ;  personally  considered,  indeed,  we 
are  to  pray  to  him,  rather  than  ybr  him.  The  prayer, 
then,  that  is  to  be  made  for  him  is,  not  to  be  made  for 
him  personally,  but  relatively  ;  on  account  of  his  re- 
lation to  other  beings — his  relation  to  us.  In  this  point 
of  view  the  object  of  our  prayer  for  Christ  will  neces- 
sarily vary  with  the  varying  state  of  his  cause.  A 
time  of  error  in  doctrine  or  of  laxity  in  discipline — a 
state  of  devotion  among  his  servants  or  of  apathy  in 
his  service — a  season  of  adversity  or  of  prosperity — 
calls  for  a  corresponding  strain  of  supplication.  But 
there  is  one  object,  which  it  is  always  seasonable  to 
implore,  and  which  should  always  occupy  the  chief 
place  in  our  petitions,  the  great  blessing  of  the  present 
dispensation — the  effusion  of  the  Spirit  of  Christ. 
Brethren,  this  is  necessary,  and  this  is  all  that  is  neces- 
sary. Why  was  it,  that  the  preaching  of  the  apostles 
was  so  much  more  successful,  than  the  preaching  of 
their  Lord,  though  "  he  spake  as  never  man  spake  .^" 
because  when  he  "  ascended  up  on  high  and  received 
gifts  for  men,"  he  poured  out  the  Spirit  upon  their 
labours,  in  the  full  measure  of  the  Christian  dispensa- 
sation.  Why  is  it,  that  the  preaching  of  the  present 
day,  though  generally  speaking  it  is  "  the  preaching  of 
the  cross,"  is  attended  with  no  greater  success  ?  Is  it 
because  there  is  not  a  proportionate  concern  for  the 
influence  of  the  Spirit ;  and  without  that,  the  preach- 
ing of  the  cross  itself  will  be  powerless,  for  he  it  is, 
who  must  "  take  of  the  things  of  Christ,  and  show 
them"  efficaciously  to  the  soul.     And  how  long  shall 


A  SERMON.  139 

this  state  of  comparative  barrenness  continue  ?  "  Until 
the  Spirit  be  poured  out  from  on  high ;"  then  "  the 
wilderness  shall  be  a  fruitful  field,  and  the  fruitful  field 
be  counted  for  a  forest." 

Yes,  in  the  scheme  of  salvation,  every  instrument 
and  agent  has  its  appointed  place,  and  its  appointed 
order  of  success.  In  that  arrangement  the  Spirit  is 
the  prime  mover  of  the  whole.  Hence  the  first  prayer 
of  Christ,  on  his  ascension  to  heaven,  was  for  the  effu- 
sion of  the  Spirit.  Till  that  was  poured  out  from  on 
high,  the  work  of  redemption  itself,  though  he  had 
just  pronounced  it  finished^  stood  still ;  but  when  it 
came,  everything  was  put  into  motion,  the  world  itself 
vibrated,  the  gates  of  hell  shook.  The  first  prayer  of 
the  church,  then  should  be,  for  the  same  object.  Why- 
is  it,  O  let  there  be  great  searchings  of  heart — why  is 
it,  that  the  promised  efiusion  of  the  Spirit  is  withheld  ? 
Why  is  it,  that  we  are  allowed  to  see  only  the  skirts  of 
his  garments,  and  not  permitted  to  see  his  face  ?  Why 
is  it,  that  we  enjoy  only  a  few  drops  of  that  mighty 
influence,  of  which,  at  this  moment,  the  heavens  are 
full  ?  "  We  have  not,  because  we  ask  not,"  or  "  be^ 
cause  we  ask  amiss."  Individual  Christians  have  not, 
individual  churches  have  not,  the  church  collectively 
has  not  yet  duly  felt  its  need  of  that  influence,  nor  sent 
up  the  prayer,  which  is  equal  to  bring  it  down.  O  let 
that  Spirit  be  sought  for,  first  as  a  Spirit  of  prayer. 
Our  prayers  would  infallibly  draw  down  fresh  supplies 
of  his  influence,  these  fresh  supplies  of  his  influence 
would  as  certainly  lead  to  increased  prayer  for  still 
larger  eflusions  of  his  grace ;  and  thus  by  action  and 
reaction,  our  prayers  would  continue  enlarging  and 
progressing,  and  insure  increased  success  to  the  cause 
of  Christ. 

But  not  only  is  prayer  to  be  made  for  the  reign  of 
Christ ;  the  text  predicts  its  continuity  or  uninter- 
ruptedness.  "  Prayer  also  shall  be  made  for  him  con- 
tinuallyy  Under  the  former  dispensation,  the  fire, 
which  burnt  upon  the  golden  altar,  was  never  allowed 
to  go  out ;  and  the  ardent  desire  of  the  pious  Israelites 


140  PRAYER  FOR  CHRIST  I 

for  the  coming  of  Christ  glowed  continually  on  the 
altar  of  their  hearts,  and  never  went  out.  And  it  is 
pleasing  to  reflect,  that  in  the  present  day  there  is  a 
sense,  in  which  it  is  true  literally  that  "  prayer  is  made 
for  him  continually."  "  Last  evening,"  writes  a  Mis- 
sionary from  China,  "  last  evening,  a  small  party  of 
the  disciples  of  Jesus  held  a  meeting  for  prayer  in  my 
room,  on  behalf  of  the  heathen  around  and  for  the  king- 
dom of  Christ  throughout  the  world  ;  in  this  land  of 
the  rising  sun,  we  may  probably  be  considered  as  be- 
ginning that  series  of  prayer-meetings,  which  are  kept 
up  all  round  the  world  on  the  first  Monday  in  the 
month — a  chain  of  prayer,  beginning  at  the  farthest 
east,  and  carried  round  successively,  as  the  sun  advan- 
ces, to  the  farthest  west  in  the  islands  of  the  Pacific 
Ocean,  and  thus  continued  for  twenty-four  hours 
monthly."  Now  it  is  interesting  to  pursue  this  mode 
.of  calculation,  and  to  suppose  that,  wherever  there  are 
Christians  to  pray  monthly  in  public  for  the  kingdom  of 
Christ,  there  are  some  to  pray  daily  in  private  for  the 
same  object ;  and  thus  we  are  brought  to  the  delight- 
ful conclusion  that  "  prayer  is  made  for  him  continu- 
ally"— that,  as  the  aged  believer  like  David,  breathes 
out  his  last  prayer  for  the  glory  of  his  reign,  another 
generation  is  just  beginning  to  lisp,  "Thy  kingdom 
come  ;"  and  as  the  Christians  of  one  province  are  ris- 
ing up  from  their  knees  before  the  throne  of  grace, 
the  Christians  of  another  province  are  just  beginning 
to  take  up  the  language  of  supplication  for  Christ  ; 
and  thus  "  a  chain  of  prayer,  beginning  in  the  farthest 
east,  is  carried  round  with  the  sun  to  the  farthest  west 
in  the  Islands  of  the  Pacific,"  through  all  the  hours  of 
time. 

And  how  much  more  pleasing  does  this  reflection 
become,  when  we  add  to  it  the  thought  that  of  all  the 
prayers  which  are  thus  offered  for  Christ,  making  one 
continued  strain  of  supplication,  not  one  ever  has  been 
nor  can  be  lost.  Is  it  true,  that  every  sin  committed 
by  his  enemies  is  noticed  by  a  God  of  unspotted  holi- 
ness— that  every  transgression  adds  something  to  the 


A  SERMON.  141 

treasuries  of  his  wrath — and  that,  when  the  cup  of 
vengeance  is  full,  he  pours  it  forth  on  the  heads  of  the 
guilty  ?  As  certainly  true  is  it,  that  every  prayer  of 
faith,  offered  by  his  people  in  behalf  of  his  Son,  is 
noticed  by  a  God  of  infinite  love — that  every  such 
prayer  adds  something  to  the  treasuries  of  his  grace — 
and  that,  when  those  treasures  have  accumulated  to  a 
certain  amount,  he  pours  them  out  upon  the  church 
and  the  world.  It  is  as  certainly  true,  that,  at  the  very 
moment  when  such  a  prayer  is  offered,  in  that  very 
moment  he  answers  it  in  his  divine  intention,  though 
he  may  wisely  delay  for  a  time  to  answer  it  really. 
The  suppliant  himself  may  forget  his  own  supplica- 
tion, or  may  despair  of  obtaining  an  answer  ;  but  he  is 
mindful  of  it,  and,  however  obscure  the  suppliant,  he 
prizes  it.  It  is  prayer  for  his  Son,  and,  as  such,  is 
music  in  his  ear,  of  which  he  loses  not  a  single  note. 
It  is  prayer  for  the  coming  of  his  kingdom,  and,  as 
such,  he  places  it  among  the  perfumed  supplications 
already  offered  by  the  saints  of  past  generations.  He 
places  it  among  the  last  aspirations  breathed  by  David, 
the  son  of  Jesse,  and  by  every  ancient  worthy — among 
the  mighty  prayers,  which  ascended  from  the  fires  of 
the  early  martyrs — among  the  loud  cries  of  those, 
whose  souls  are  heard  from  "  under  the  altar" — 
among  the  earnest  entreaties  of  the  wide  creation, 
which  sighs  to  be  delivered  from  the  bondage  of  cor- 
ruption, into  the  glorious  liberty  of  the  sons  of  God. 
It  is  a  prayer  for  the  salvation  of  a  world  which  he 
loves— and  with  delight  he  beheld  it  flow  into  a  chan- 
nel, in  which  a  stream  of  prayer  has  been  for  ages 
flowing  and  accumulating  without  a  moment's  pause, 
and  which  shall  finally  overflow,  and  pour  forth  a  heal- 
ing flood  of  heavenly  grace  over  the  whole  earth. 
Ye,  then,  that  love  the  Lord — "  keep  not  silence  ;"  and 
in  all  your  entreaties  for  the  kingdom  of  Christ,  let 
your  loudest  supplications  ascend  for  the  advent  of  the 
Spirit.  If  you  would  not  "  grieve  the  Holy  Spirit  of 
God,"  if  you  would  do  homage  to  the  office  which  he 
holds  in  the  plan  of  the  world's  salvation,  if  you  would 


142  PRAYER  FOR  CHRIST  : 

do  honour  to  the  mediation  of  Christ  by  which  the 
Spirit  is  given,  pray  "  continually"  for  Christ  by  pray- 
ing continually  for  his  Spirit. 

Observe,  again,  ihsii  prayer  for  Christ  is  to  he  offer- 
ed conjointly  with  other  things — "  prayer  also.''''  In 
all  conquered  lands — the  subjection  of  the  people  was 
marked  by  two  things ;  their  money  was  stamped 
with  the  name  of  the  conqueror,  and  they  were  oblig- 
ed to  pray  for  him  in  their  public  worship.  In  allusion 
to  this  fact,  it  is  here  said  of  the  conquering  Saviour, 
"  To  him  shall  be  given  of  the  gold  of  Sheba  ;  prayer 
also  shall  be  made  for  him  continually."  "•  The  gold 
of  Sheba,"  a  portion  of  our  worldly  substance,  is  to  be 
devoted  to  him  in  connexion  wdth  our  prayers  ;  for  to 
pray  in  his  behalf  without  accompanying  the  act  with 
this  proof  of  our  sincerity,  would  be  as  profane,  as  to 
use  all  other  kind  of  means,  except  prayer — would  be 
impious.  And  who  has  not  at  least  "  a  cup  of  cold 
water"  or  "  two  mites"  to  contribute  to  his  service  in 
connexion  with  a  prayer  for  his  glory  ? 

But  we  apprehend,  that  it  is  far  more  common  for  a 
man  to  give  without  praying,  than  it  is  for  him  to 
pray  without  contributing.  He  may  give  a  small  pit- 
tance for  the  cause  of  Christ;  and  the  motive  which 
leads  him  to  do  so  may  stop  there,  without  leading  to 
any  thing  beyond.  But  the  motive,  which  leads  him 
to  become  a  suppliant  for  that  cause  at  a  throne  of 
grace,  will  operate  to  other  effects.  The  love,  which 
led  him  there,  will  lead  him,  while  he  is  there,  to  en- 
quire, "Lord,  what  will  thou  have  me  to  do?"  The 
zeal  for  Christ,  which  led  him  there,  will  not  there  ex- 
pire ;  it  will  there  be  fanned,  and  fed,  and  rise  into  a 
flame,  in  which  his  property  will  be  cast,  as  one  of  the 
first  and  most  appropriate  offerings.  Prayer  for  Christ 
is  one  of  the  last  efforts  made  for  him  ;  we  are  dis})os- 
ed  to  emulate  each  other  in  every  thing,  rather  than  in 
prayer.  Hence  the  importance  of  urging  the  duty, 
since,  where  this  is  performed,  it  evinces  a  disposition 
to  perform  every  other. 

Brethren,  do  you  contribute  a  portion  of  your  prop- 


A    SERMON.  143 

erty  to  the  Christian  cause,  but  withhold  your  suppUca- 
tions  from  it  ?  Then  the  church  cannot  rely  on  the 
continuance  of  your  aid,  for  it  does  not  spring  from 
principle  ;  and  God  himself  resents  what  you  do  as  an 
affront  offered  to  his  Spirit ;  he  regards  every  power 
in  the  universe  as  more  or  less  opposed  to  him,  but  the 
power  of  prayer  and  the  means  which  prayer  has 
sanctified ;  he  views  it  as  an  attempt  to  do  without 
him,  as  a  hostile  endeavour  to  contravene  the  great 
principle  of  the  Gospel,  that  "  not  by  might,"  nor 
money,  "  nor  by  power,  but  by  his  Spirit"  alone,  the 
maladies  of  the  world  shall  be  healed.  On  the  other 
hand,  does  the  Christian  cause  press  on  your  heart  ? 
Does  it  ?  We  will  defy  you  to  withhold  your  proper- 
ty from  it.  Do  you  sympathize  with  Christ  in  "  the 
travail  of  his  soul  ?"  O  if  that  sympathy  be  sincere, 
it  will  turn  your  whole  soul  into  desire,  it  will  convert 
your' very  gifts  into  prayers.  Like  the  Eastern  magi, 
the  act  of  falling  down  to  adore  him,  and  of  pouring 
out  at  his  feet  "  gold  and  frankincense  and  myrrh," 
will  with  you  be  one  and  the  same  act.  Do  you  sin- 
cerely pray  for  the  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  ?  In  im- 
ploring that,  you  are  imploring  the  spirit  of  Christian 
liberality  for  yourselves,  and  for  the  whole  church ; 
you  are  in  effect  praying  that  all  the  powers  of  nature 
— all  the  resources  of  providence — all  the  wealth  and 
greatness  of  the  world  may  be  pressed  into  the  ser- 
vice of  Christ.  For  only  let  "  the  Spirit  be  poured 
out  from  on  high,"  and  it  will  enlist  into  his  cause 
every  species  of  instrumentality,  which  men  possess. 
"  The  abundance  of  the  sea  shall  be  converted  unto 
thee  ;  the  forces  of  the  Gentiles  shall  come  unto  thee  ; 
the  multitude  of  camels  shall  cover  thee,  the  drome- 
daries of  Midian  and  Ephah ;  all  they  from  Sheba 
shall  come,  they  shall  bring  gold  and  increase,  and 
they  shall  show  forth  the  praises  of  the  Lord."  Eve- 
ry thing  will  be  brought,  as  an  expression  of  love  to 
Christ ;  and  to  adorn  his  triumph,  nothing  will  be 
deemed  too  costly  for  the  great  occasion.  All  majesty 
shall  bow  before  him,  kings  shall  wait  in  his  train,  the 


144  PRAYER    FOR  CHRIST  I 

spoils  of  earthly  grandeur  be  laid  at  his  feet,  and  Christ 
"  alone  be  exalted  in  the  day." 

How  many  and  how  powerful  the  motives  then^  which 
should  induce  us  to  pray  for  the  reign  of  Christ  !  A 
sense  of  consistency  demands  it ;  we  call  him  our  King, 
and  shall  we  not  be  concerned  for  the  prosperity  of 
his  kingdom  ?  A  principle  of  benevolence  to  man  re- 
quires it ;  the  success  of  his  cause  and  human  hap- 
piness are  one  ;  his  voice  is  the  proclamation  of  pardon 
to  the  condemned,  and  of  liberty  to  the  captive  ;  his 
conquests  are  bloodless,  achieved  over  sin,  and  error, 
and  the  enemies  of  man ;  his  trophies  are  the  souls  of 
men,  redeemed  from  the  bondage  of  satan  and  adorned 
with  the  beauties  of  holiness ;  his  career  is  the  march 
of  truth,  and  righteousness  and  peace  ;  then  who  would 
not  pray  for  his  success  ?  A  principle  of  gratitude 
requires  it ;  he  has  prayed  for  us  "  with  strong  crying 
and  tears,"  or  we  should  not  at  this  moment  be  in  a 
condition  to  pray  for  ourselves  ;  he  gave  himself  for  us^ 
and  in  heaven  he  intercedes  for  us  still.  Yes,  this  is  the 
order,  the  manifest  arrangement  of  infinite  wisdom, 
that  he  should  intercede  for  the  church,  while  the 
church  intercedes  for  the  world.  In  the  gracious 
fulfilment  of  his  office,  he  prays  continually  for  us ; 
the  censer  never  quits  his  hand,  the  incense  perpetually 
rises,  his  priestly  robes  are  never  laid  aside.  And 
shall  we  intermit  our  prayers  for  him  ?  let  a  sense  of 
our  obligation  induce  us  to  pray  for  him.  A  regard 
for  our  own  welfare  demands  it ;  we  cannot  pray  for 
him  without  drawing  down  a  blessing  for  ourselves, 
without  enlarging  our  hearts,  standing  as  in  the  coun- 
sels of  God,  becoming  god-like.  And  thus  every 
prayer,  which  ascends  from  his  people  on  his  behalf, 
like  the  vapour  which  the  earth  sends  up  into  the  clouds, 
returns  again  in  showers  of  blessing  into  their  own 
bosom. 

"  Besides,  prayer  for  the  reign  of  Christ  is  in  har- 
mony with  the  prevailing  spirit  of  the  Gospel  constitu- 
tion. According  to  that  spirit,  every  thing  is  made 
dependent  on  prayer,  and  may  be  effected  by  it.     What 


A    SERMON.  145 

is  the  sacrifice  of  Christ  himself,  but  prayer  in  its  most 
constant,  intense,  and  prevailing  form — the  prayer  of 
blood  ?  Hence  it  is  said,  "  He  is  able  to  save  unto  the 
uttermost  all  that  come  unto  God  by  him,  seeing  he 
ever  liveth  to  make  intercession  for  them."  He  has 
turned  the  whole  merit  of  his  sacrifice  into  prayer. 
Intercession,  in  his  hands,  is  a  chain  fastened  to  the 
throne  of  God,  the  stay  and  the  support  of  a  sinking 
world.  Yes,  even  Christ  has  to  pray,  and  by  prayer 
succeeds.  If  he  would  have  "  the  heathen"  to  be  his 
"  for  an  inheritance,"  he  is  directed  to  ask  to  that  effect ; 
and,  accordingly,  he  does  ask :  "  For  Zion's  sake," 
saith  he,  "  I  will  not  hold  my  peace,  and  for  Jerusalem's 
sake  I  will  not  rest  until  the  righteousness  .  thereof  go 
forth  as  brightness,  and  the  salvation  thereof  as  a  lamp 
that  burneth."  And  shall  he  pray  for  this  object  alone  ? 
He  summons  the  church  to  join  ;  "  Ye  that  make  men- 
tion of  the  Lord,"  saith  he,  "  keep  not  silence,  and 
give  him  no  rest."  He  places  them  by  his  side  at  the 
altar,  puts  into  their  hand  a  censer  filled  with  incense 
like  his  own,  and  thus  seeks  to  multiply  the  voice  and 
the  power  of  his  own  intercession. 

But  why  should  it  be  necessary  to  enforce  motives 
such  as  these  ?  The  honour  which  he  has  put  on  us, 
in  permitting  us  to  pray  for  him,  might  well  overwhelm 
us  with  amazement.  He  needs  not  the  supplications  of 
any  of  his  creatures,  for  he  is  the  object  of  the  Father's 
unbounded  complacency,  who  hath  given  all  things 
into  his  hand ;  or,  if  he  chose  to  employ  them,  he 
might  have  engaged  the  intercession  of  his  holy  an- 
gels— they  have  never  cast  off  his  authority,  as  we 
have  done — they  have  ever  counted  it  their  highest 
honour  to  engage  in  his  service.  How  astonishing,  then, 
that  he  should  ask  for  our  supplications  in  his  behalf, 
that  he  should  permit  us  to  breathe  an  entreaty  for  him, 
that  he  should  place  us,  whose  every  breath  was  pollu- 
tion, whose  every  act  was  an  act  of  rebellion  against 
him,  whom  he  had  to  create  anew  before  we  would 
take  any  interest  in  his  service — that  he  should  actually 
place  W5  around  the  golden  altar  as  priests  and  interces- 
10 


146  PRAYER    FOR    CHRIST  : 

sors  for  him,  that  he  should  (as  it  were,)  change  rela- 
tions with  us,  placing  us  in  the  office  of  intercessors 
for  him,  though  the  acceptance  of  our  prayers  and  the 
salvation  of  our  souls  depend  entirely  on  his  interces- 
sion for  us  !  Well  may  "  prayer  be  made  continually 
for  him  ;"  and  well  may  the  Christian  cherish  a  desire, 
that  every  moment  of  his  life  should  be  consecrated 
to  an  employment  so  ennobling  and  so  divine. 

Brethren,  in  making  a  brief  application  of  this  sub- 
ject^ how  painful  is  it  to  think,  that  fidelity  requires  us 
to  ask,  not  merely  whether  you  have  ever  prayed  for 
the  cause  of  Christ,  but  to  go  so  far  back  as  to  ask 
whether  you  have  ever  prayed  for  yourselves.  For  if 
you  have  not,  it  is  too  much  to  suppose,  that  you  have 
prayed  even  for  Christ ;  if  you  have  not  prayed  to  him 
on  your  own  account,  it  is  not  to  be  expected  that  you 
have  prayed  for  him  on  any  account.  Let  me,  then, 
repeat  the  enquiry,  not  as  a  matter  of  course,  but  as  a 
matter  of  infinite  moment,  whether  you  have  ever  yet 
prayed  for  yourselves.  Have  you  acquired  a  habit  of 
resorting  daily  to  the  footstool  of  mercy,  in  the  name 
of  Christ  ?  If  you  have  not,  let  me  remind  you,  that 
so  far  from  promoting  his  cause,  you  are  throwing 
yourselves  as  obstacles  in  the  way  of  its  progress.  Let 
me  remind  you,  that,  if  your  conduct  were  universally 
imitated,  this  world  would  cease  to  have  intercourse 
with  heaven,  the  footstool  of  mercy  would  be  quite 
deserted,  the  angel  having  the  golden  censer  would 
forsake  the  altar,  no  more  to  offer  incense  ther.e — the 
destruction  of  the  world  would  commence.  Let  me 
remind  you,  that  the  cause  of  Christ,  of  which  you  are 
now  so  regardless,  is  destined  to  triumph,  and  the  choice 
is  now  given  you,  whether  you  will  share  the  honour 
of  promoting  it,  or  be  dragged  as  a  captive  at  its  wheels. 
Believe  it,  my  fellow-sinner,  that  he  is  now  awaiting 
your  application  for  mercy ;  he  now  sends  to  you  this 
message — that  he  is  waiting  for  you,  that  he  looks  to  see 
you  to-day  at  his  footstool.  O  haste  to  take  refuge  at 
his  feet.  Pray  that  he  would  triumph  over  your  irre- 
ligion.  Beseech  him  to  make  you  willing  in  this  "  day 
of  his  power." 


A    SERMON.  147 

But  if  you  do  pray  for  the  reign  of  Christ,  cultivate 
the  habit.  Pray  for  an  increase  of  your  own  personal 
piety ;  and  remember  that,  in  so  doing,  you  are  in 
effect  praying  for  him,  for  you  are  asking  to  augment 
his  glory  by  the  acceptance  of  your  homage,  to  multi- 
ply his  subjects  by  adding  you  to  their  number,  to  ad- 
vance his  cause  by  taking  you  into  his  service,  and  con- 
descending to  employ  your  instrumentality.  Pray  for 
the  prosperity  of  the  Christian  church.  But  has  not  a 
spirit  of  supplication  of  late  years  distinguished  the 
churches  of  Christ  ?  Only  very  partially,  whereas  the 
prayer  wanted  is  universal ;  only  very  feebly,  whereas 
the  prayer  wanted  is  "  the  effectual  fervent  prayer," 
which  "  availeth  much ;"  only  by  fits,  whereas  the 
prayer  needed  is  the  continual,  unbroken,  persevering 
cry  of  importunity ;  only  the  prayer  of  party,  (effects 
prove  it,)  whereas  the  prayer  wanted  is  the  prayer  of 
all  "  with  one  accord."  Pray,  then,  for  the  prosperity 
of  the  Christian  church. 

Do  you  ask,  what  should  be  the  special  object  of 
supplication  ?  O  it  wants  more  spirituality,  more  dis- 
tinctness from  the  world  ;  it  wants  a  higher  apprecia- 
tion of  its  office,  as  the  instrument  of  Christ  for  saving 
the  world  ;  it  wants  more  of  the  spirit  of  liberality, 
union,  zeal.  But  there  is  one  want,  which  compre- 
hends the  whole — the  impartation  of  the  Spirit.  Let 
that  be  secured,  and  in  obtaining  that  we  should  obtain 
the  supply  of  every  other  want ;  we  should  find,  that 
we  had  come  into  the  possession  of  the  same  mind, 
which  was  also  in  Christ — a  benevolence,  which  would 
yearn  over  the  whole  human  race — a  brotherly  love, 
which  would  combine  whh  the  entire  body  of  Chris- 
tians, for  the  conversion  of  the  world — a  zeal,  which 
would  be  constantly  devising  fresh  methods  of  useful- 
ness, practising  self-denial  and  laying  itself  out  in  the 
service  of  Christ — and  a  perseverance,  which  would 
never  rest,  till  the  whole  family  of  man  should  be  sit- 
ting together  at  the  banquet  of  salvation. 

But  if  all  this  is  to  be  obtained  by  prayer,  shall  we  not 
seek  it,  and  seek  it  at  once  ^     Why  should  this  church, 


148  PRAYER    FOR    CHRIST  : 

this  congregation  delay  ?  Why  should  we  not  now, 
every  soul,  send  up  an  earnest  and  united  cry  for  the 
Spirit  of  God  ?  And  if  we  did  so,  who  will  dare  to 
say  that  the  blessing  would  not  forthwith  descend  ? 
And  who  will  venture  to  calculate  the  extent  and  conse- 
quence of  that  blessing  ?  Brethren,  do  we  really  be- 
lieve in  the  efficacy  of  prayer  ?  Do  we  ?  then  let  us 
prove  it.  Let  us  take,  for  instance,  that  forlorn  hope 
of  the  Missionary  war,  China,  as  the  scene  of  a  new 
Christian  enterprize  ;  let  every  step  taken  be  conse- 
crated by  prayer ;  let  the  heralds  be  sent  to  summon 
it  in  the  name  of  Christ ;  let  Moses  retire  to  the  hill  to 
pray,  and  (if  necessary,)  let  Joshua  and  Hur  accompany 
and  assist  him — in  other  words,  let  chosen  men  be  ap- 
pointed to  pray,  let  others  follow  them  in  unbroken  suc- 
cession, and  others  meet  to  pray  for  the  chosen  interces- 
sors ;  and  let  them  entreat  God  continually  for  that 
specific  object.  Let  this  be  done ;  and  could  you 
doubt  of  success  ?  would  you  hesitate,  supposing  you 
were  qualified — would  you  hesitate  to  be  yourself  one 
of  the  heralds  ?     Then  you  are  not  a  believer. 

Christian  brethren,  prayer  is  not  only  desirable,  ob- 
ligatory, necessary  ;  it  is,  in  a  sense  becoming  inevita- 
ble. We  read  of  the  church  of  old  being  "  shut  up 
unto  the  faith,  which  should  afterwards  be  revealed" 
— the  faith  of  Christ.  The  church  at  present  is  "shut 
up  unto"  prayer — prayer  for  the  Spirit.  It  must  sub- 
mit to  disgrace  in  heathen  lands,  or  call  down  help 
from  heaven.  It  is  so  completely  ensnared  by  success, 
that  it  must  sound  a  retreat,  or  betake  itself  to  God  in 
unusual  prayer  ?  Happy  necessity,  which  shall  drive 
it  to  this  resource !  Blessed  exigence,  which  shall 
bring  the  whole  church  on  its  kness  before  God.  "  The 
time  to  favour  her,  yea,  the  set  time,"  will  then  have 
*'  come."  "  God,  even  our  own  God  will  bless  us." 
Gazing  from  his  throne  upon  his  church  suppliant  at 
his  feet,  he  will  say,  "  Behold  she  prayeth  ;  let  the 
windows  of  heaven  be  opened,  and  let  the  blessing  be 
poured  out." 

By  our  sense  of  consistency,  then,  by  our  pity  for 


A  SEIiMON.  149 

nations  perishing  in  ignorance  and  guilt,  by  our  grati- 
tude to  Christ,  by  our  own  spiritual  welfare  and  by  the 
dignity  of  our  ofRce,  let  us  seek  the  effusion  of  the 
Spirit  on  the  Christian  church.  And  while  before  God 
in  prayer,  let  us  remember,  that,  in  interceding  for  the 
church  we  are  interceding  for  the  world  ;  for  it  is  only 
through  the  instrumentality  of  his  people,  that  he  pur- 
poses to  save  the  world.  Christians !  realize  in 
thought  the  responsibility  of  your  office.  Think  !  you 
go  to  God  as  the  earthly  representatives  of  mankind, 
as  intercessors  for  the  world.  You  pass  to  the  throne 
of  grace,  through  multitudes — myriads  of  human  be- 
ings. Do  you  not  hear  them,  as  you  go,  imploring  a 
place  in  your  supplications  ?  Do  you  not  see  all  Africa 
assembled  in  your  path,  urging  you  to  go  to  God  for 
them,  to  describe  their  want,  to  ask  for  them  the  bles- 
sings of  the  reign  of  Christ  ?  And  before  you  have 
done  pleading  for  Africa,  China  comes  with  its  untold 
myriads,  entreating  you  to  intercede  for  them.  And 
while  you  are  pleading  for  China,  India  comes  with  its 
tale  of  lamentation  and  woe,  and  entreats  you  to  speak 
for  it ;  and  can  you  refrain  ?  And  when  you  grow 
fkint,  they  all  combine  their  entreaties  together,  that 
you  cry  to  God  for  them  louder  still,  that  you  call  in 
help — more  intercessors  and  more,  till  all  the  church 
be  prostrate  in  prayer.  And  when  you  move  to  quit 
the  throne  of  grace,  they  all  entreat  you  not  to  leave 
them  unrepresented  before  God.  "  O  if  there  be  a 
God,"  they  say,  "  and  if  prayer  can  reach  him,  do  not 
leave  us  thus,  or  we  perish ;  our  only  hope  is  in  the  God 
you  worship,  the  Saviour  you  proclaim ;  pray  that  his 
saving  health  may  be  extended  to  us."  Let  Christians 
realize  their  office  thus,  and  remember  that,  in  asking 
for  the  salvation  of  the  world,  they  are  asking  the  con- 
summation of  the  glory  of  Christ,  and  then  pray  till 
the  world  is  given  into  their  hands.  Meantime  the 
whole  creation  prays ;  "  the  whole  creation  groaneth 
and  travaileth  in  pain  together  until  now  ;"  it  contains 
within  itself  principles  and  powers  repressed  by  the 
curse  of  sin,  but  panting  and  straining  to  regain  their 


150  PRAYER   FOR   CHRIST:    A    SERMON. 

freedom,  and  to  fulfil  their  destiny  ;  and  its  prayer 
shall  be  heard. 

But  O  there  is  an  infinite  power  slumbering  in  the 
arm  of  God,  waiting  to  be  awoke  by  the  prayers  of 
the  church  for  the  renovation  of  the  world.  And  the 
time  shall  come,  when  the  efficacy  of  prayer  shall  be 
tried  on  a  scale  before  unknown,  when  the  voice  of 
the  church  shall  incessantly  cry,  '^  Awake,  awake,  O 
arm  of  the  Lord."  And  the  time  shall  come,  when 
that  prayer  shall  be  heard  and  those  supplications  be 
answered.  "  Behold,"  saith  he,  "I  make  all  things. 
new."  At  this  moment,  that  new  creation  stands  com- 
plete in  his  prescient  view.  There  are  its  fields  of  liv- 
ing green,  its  trees  of  life  and  all  its  crystal  streams  ; 
there  are  "  the  nations  of  them  that  are  saved,  rejoic- 
ing before  him."  His  church  prayed  for  him  contin- 
ually ;  and  now  and  for  ever  "  daily  shall  he  be  prais- 
ed." "  His  name  shall  endure  for  ever ;  his  name 
shall  be  continued  as  long  as  the  sun ;  and  men  shall 
be  blessed  in  him  ;  all  nations  shall  call  him  blessed. 
And  blessed  be  his  glorious  name  for  ever.  And  let 
the  whole  earth  be  filled  with  his  glory.  Amen  and 
amen." 


EPISTLE  TO  THE  CHURCH  IN  SMYRNA : 
A  SERMON 


DELIVERED   AT    CLAYLAND's     CHAPEL,     CLAPHAM    ROADS, 

ON    THE    FIRST    ANNIVERSARY  OF    THE    OPENING  OF 

THE    CHAPEL,    LONDON,    JUNE  29,  1837. 

And  unto  the  angel  of  the  church  in  Smyrna  write,  these  things 
saith  the  first  and  the  last,  rvhich  was  dead  and  is  alive,  I  know 
thy  works,  and  tribulation  and  poverty,  {hut  thou  art  rich,)  and  1 
know  the  blasphemy  of  them  which  say  they  are  Jews,  and  are 
not,  but  are  the  synagogue  of  satan.  Fear  none  of  those  things^ 
which  thou  shalt  suffer ;  behold,  the  devil  shall  cast  some  of  you 
into  prison,  that  ye  may  be  tried,  and  ye  shall  have  tribulation 
ten  days  ;  be  thou  faithful  unto  death,  and  I  will  give  thee  a 
crorvn  of  life.  He  that  hath  an  ear,  let  him  hearrvhat  the  Spirit 
saith  unto  the  churches.  He  that  overcometh  shall  not  be  hurt  of 
the  second  death.     Revelations  ii.  8 — 11. 

This,  as  the  superscription  informs  us,  is  one  of  the 
seven  epistles  addressed  by  the  Supreme  Head  of  the 
church,  through  the  medium  of  his  servant  John,  to 
the  churches  in  Asia.  The  structure  of  this  epistle, 
like  that  of  all  the  rest,  is  beautifully  compact ;  and 
the  distribution  of  its  parts  natural  and  comprehensive. 
After  opening  with  an  inscription,  which  points  out  the 
particular  church  for  which  it  is  intended,  and  the  divine 
authority  from  whom  it  is  sent,  it  is  found  to  contain  a 
commendation  of  whatever  in  that  church  was  praise- 
worthy, a  rebuke  of  whatever  was  reprehensible,  and 
a  variety  of  counsels  calculated  to  arouse  the  slumber- 
ing, to  encourage  perseverance  and  to  animate  hope, 
and  concluding  with  a  call  to  universal  attention  and 
obedience,  and  a  promise  to  the  triumphant  Christian 
of  distinguished  honour  in  the  world  above. 


152  EPISTLE    TO   THE  CHURCH  IN  SMYRNA  : 

But  a  similarity  of  structure  is  not  the  only  thing  these 
epistles  have  in  common  ;  for,  while  the  blessed  Saviour, 
who  indites  them,  shows  that  his  knowledge  of  each 
church  is  specific — while  he  is  even  exquisitely  dis- 
criminate and  minute  in  his  remarks  upon  each — they 
are  all  characterized  and  pervaded  by  the  same  general 
principles ;  and  the  call  on  every  one,  to  "  hear  what 
the  Spirit  saith  unto  the  churches,"  makes  it  evident 
that  these  general  principles  were  intended  for  uni- 
versal application  to  the  churches  of  Jesus  Christ,  in 
all  subsequent  ages.  We  have  selected  the  text,  with 
a  view  of  making  it  the  basis  of  a  few  remarks  on 
some  of  these  general  principles. 

I.  And,  first,  the  Saviour  would  teach  us,  that  Ms 
churches  are  objects  of  his  supreme  regard. 

More  than  half  a  century  had  now  elapsed,  since  he 
had  "  ascended  up  far  above  all  heaven ;"  and  during 
that  period,  whether  he  made  himself  visible  to  the 
martyr  Stephen,  or  called  to  the  persecuting  Saul  of 
Tarsus,  or  graciously  deigned  any  other  manifesta- 
tion— he  showed,  on  each  occasion,  that  the  interests 
of  his  church  were  always  present  to  his  mind.  And 
now  that  he  once  more  comes  forth,  to  shut  up  the  vision 
and  complete  the  canon  of  Scripture,  what  is  his 
burden  still,  but  the  welfare  of  his  church  ?  Behold 
him  ;  he  has  once  more  emerged  from  the  depths  of 
his  everlasting  dwelling  place  ;  and  he  is  "  clothed 
with  a  garment  down  to  the  foot,  and  girt  about  the 
breast  with  a  golden  girdle  ;  his  head  and  his  hair  are 
white  like  wool,  as  white  as  snow  ;  and  his  eyes  are  as 
a  flame  of  fire  ;  his  feet  are  like  unto  fine  brass,  as  if 
they  burned  in  a  furnace  ;  and  his  voice  as  the  sound 
of  many  waters  ;  in  his  right  hand  are  seven  stars,  and  , 
out  of  his  mouth  goeth  a  sharp  two-edged  sword,  and 
his  countenance  is  as  the  sun  shining  in  his  strength.'* 
Listen  to  him  ;  he  once  more  breaks  the  silence  of 
eternity ;  -he  calls  the  world — the  universe — to  an  au- 
dience ;  "  He  that  hath  an  ear,  let  him  hear  what 
the  Spirit  saith  unto  the  churches."  And  what  do  we 
hear  ?     The   destruction  of  Jerusalem  itself  was  at 


A   SERMON.  153 

that  moment  impending.  Do  we  hear  a  prediction  of 
its  ruin  ?  All  the  governments  of  the  world  were  at  that 
time  in  a  crisis.  Do  the  divine  disclosures  we  receive 
relate  to  their  destinies  ?  No  ;  topics  like  these,  though 
they  are  all  engrossing  to  the  world,  are  passed  over 
by  Him,  as  comparatively  insignificant.  Every  sylla- 
ble he  utters  relates  entirely  to  the  welfare  of  his 
church,  "  which  he  hath  purchased  with  his  own 
blood." 

The  affairs  of  the  world,  indeed,  are  under  his 
superintendence  ;  but  always  with  an  especial  view  to 
the  prosperity  of  his  church.  While  he  extends  his 
sceptre  and  dispatches  his  messengers  to  every  part 
of  the  earth,  he  represents  himself  as  "  walking  in  the 
midst"  of  the  churches,  and  holding  their  "  stars  in  his 
right  hand."  The  church  is  his  mystical  body ;  and 
he  is  present  as  its  vital  Head,  living  through  all  its 
members.  It  is  the  theatre  of  his  grace,  in  which  he 
is  making  experiments  of  mercy  on  human  hearts,  and 
effecting  transformations  so  amazing  that  angels  look 
on  with  astonishment  and  joy.  It  is  the  sacred  school, 
in  which  he  is  training  up  a  number  of  those  who  were 
"  heirs  of  wrath,"  and  preparing  them  to  take  part 
in  the  business  and  pleasures  of  heaven.  Every  thing 
in  his  church  is  sprinkled  with  his  blood  and  inscribed 
with  his  name.  He  has  formed  it  "  for  himself," 
to  "  show  forth  his  praise."  "  His  eye  and  his  heart 
are  there  continually."  And  the  consideration  of  its 
supreme  value  in  his  account  should  induce  every  in- 
dividual church,  and  every  individual  member,  in  all 
things  to  consult  his  will,  to  watch  and  follow  his  move- 
ments, and  to  rely  on  his  superintendence  and  all-suffi- 
ciency. 

II.  A  second  truth  implied  in  the  text,  is  that  Christ 
possesses  the  most  accurate  acquaintance  with  the  state 
of  his  churches  and  of  all  their  individual  members. 

Each  of  these  epistles  is  commenced  with  the  declar- 
ation, "J  know  thy  works;''''  and  to  prove  this,  the 
Saviour  lays  before  each  church  a  sketch  of  its  history 
and  its  faith.     He  knows  the  number  of  those,  who 


154  EPISTLE    TO    THE   CHURCH    IN    SMYRNA  : 

are  in  the  habit  of  attending  on  the  ministry  of  his 
Gospel  in  any  given  place,  and  discriminates  between 
those  who  attend  with  hearts  prepared  and  desirous 
to  profit,  and  those  who  are  formal,  lukewarm  and  in- 
sensible. He  distinguishes  between  those  who  worship 
God  in  the  Spirit,  and  those  who  only  go  through  the 
attitudes  and  signs  of  devotion.  When  he  sees  his 
professed  worshippers  at  his  footstool,  "  his  eyes  are 
as  a  flame  of  fire"  making  inquisition  for  their  hearts, 
going  from  bosom  to  bosom,  penetrating  through  every 
veil,  to  learn  their  sincerity.  He  follows  them  from 
the  sanctuary,  to  see  whether  their  devotion  will  live 
till  they  reach  the  closet — and  into  the  world,  to  see  if 
their  piety  be  more  than  a  name.  Many  of  you  are 
known  as  his  professed  people,  your  names  are  enrolled 
in  his  earthly  church,  and,  as  such,  your  conduct  is  an 
object  of  attention  to  your  fellow  professors.  He  also 
has  a  book,  in  which  your  names  are  enrolled  ;  but 
there  are  inserted,  in  addition  to  your  names,  all  the 
particulars  of  your  moral  history — all  the  religious 
privileges  you  have  enjoyed — all  which  you  might 
have  enjoyed,  but  have  lost  through  neglect — all  the 
impressions  you  have  felt,  the  resolutions  you  have 
made,  and  the  discipline  by  which  you  have  been  ex- 
ercised. From  that  volume  he  could  read  forth  at  this 
moment  a  minute  description  of  your  religious  charac- 
ter, specifying  the  particular  sins  in  which  you  have 
indulged — the  secret  causes,  which  have  operated  to 
check  the  growth  of  your  piety — the  manner  in  which 
you  have  "  restrained  prayer  before  God,"  with  all  the 
particulars  of  your  devotional  habits.  "Behold,"  saith 
he,  "  I  stand  at  the  door  and  knock  ;"  and  he  knows 
what  unholy  guests  are  within,  what  sins  are  entertained 
and  regaled  in  the  chambers  of  your  heart,  while  he 
is  kept  standing  without  and  refused  admission ;  or  if 
you  have  opened  and  received  him,  he  construes  every 
thought  and  movement  of  your  heart  into  a  sign  of 
welcome,  or  a  symptom  of  estrangement  and  growing 
indifference. 

And  oh  !  were  he  now  to  open  that "  book  of  remem- 


A    SERMON.  155 

brance"  at  the  page — which  contains  your  name  or 
mine,  what  may  we  suppose  would  be  the  disclosures 
he  would  make?  Would  not  the  very  first  sentence 
he  would  utter — "  I  know  thy  icorks^'' — instantly  re- 
mind us  of  resolutions  broken,  of  privileges  abused 
and  of  duties  neglected  ?  Would  there  not  flash  upon 
our  minds  the  recollection  of  many  a  struggle,  in  which 
conscience  was  vanquished  by  inclination,  the  love  of 
ease  had  overcome  a  sense  of  duty,  the  influence  of 
custom  had  triumphed  over  a  clear  conviction  of  obliga- 
tion and  right  ?  Would  not  the  first  item  he  might 
name,  in  the  catalogue  of  our  doings,  be  of  a  nature  to 
cover  us  with  confusion,  and  to  prepare  us  to  hear  the 
account  closed  with  the  sentence  of  our  condemna- 
tion ? 

Brethren,  the  day  is  approaching,  when  the  account 
will  be  proclaimed  in  the  hearing  of  the  universe  ;  and 
the  first  and  the  least  effect,  which  the  prospect  of  that 
day  should  produce,  should  be  to  lead  us  at  once  to 
institute  "  great  searchings  of  heart." 

III.  A  third  inference,  derivable  from  the  text,  is 
that  the  Saviour  despises  not  the  least  indications  of 
piety — that  he  despises  not  the  least  indications  of 
piety,  but  would  have  those,  who  are  the  subjects  of 
such  indications,  to  cherish  most  encouraging  views  of 
his  character. 

We  infer  this  from  the  very  fact  of  his  appearance 
to  John  in  order  to  deliver  the  message  to  his  churches. 
This  circumstance  alone  demonstrated  that  he  had  not 
put  off"  the  Saviour^  that  he  had  not  dissolved  his  rela- 
tionship to  his  people,  nor  divested  himself  of  that 
tender  concern  for  their  welfare  ;  which  he  so  continu- 
ally evinced  during  his  sojourn  upon  earth.  We  infer 
it  from  his  making  this  appearance  in  human  nature. 
His  appearance,  indeed,  as  described  by  John,  exhibit- 
ed that  nature  invested  with  attributes  of  magnificence 
and  glory  ;  but  still  the  nature  which  he  wore  was  our 
own.  He  was  "  like  unto  the  Son  of  man,"  and  was 
clothed  in  his  priestly  attire,  reminding  us  that  "  we 
have  not  an  High  Priest  which  cannot  be  touched  with 


156  EPISTLE  TO    THE    CHURCH    IN    SMYRNA  : 

the  feeling  of  our  infirmities" — that  in  heaven  the 
golden  censer  is  never  out  of  his  hand,  the  altar  of 
incense  never  deserted,  his  priestly  attire  never  laid 
aside — that  he  "  ever  liveth  to  make  intercession'* 
there. 

We  draw  this  conclusion  also  from  the  view,  which 
he  gives  of  his  character  to  the  particular  church  ad- 
dressed in  the  text.  It  is  observable,  that,  as  each  church 
had  a  character  peculiar  to  itself,  so  he  turned  towards 
each  that  particular  aspect  of  his  own  character,  which 
was  most  essential  for  it  to  keep  in  view.  The  church 
of  Pergamos,  for  instance,  was  overrun  with  destruc- 
tive errors,  and  therefore  to  that  church  he  writes  as 
"  He  that  hath  the  sharp  sword  with  two  edges" — that 
weapon  of  celestial  temper  which  is  "  quick  and  power- 
ful" to  exterminate  error  from  the  soul  and  heresy 
from  the  church.  But  the  church  of  Smyrna  was  in  a 
condition  to  require  encouragement,  and  therefore  he 
turns  on  it  a  benignant  aspect,  reminding  them  that  he 
is  "  the  first  and  the  last,  which  was  dead  and  is  alive" 
again.  By  thus  alluding  to  his  death,  he  sought  to 
awaken  in  them  the  recollection  of  all  that  he  had 
done  to  redeem  them — of  his  assuming  their  nature, 
expiating  their  guilt,  absorbing  and  carrying  away  all 
their  sorrows,  and  discharging  for  them  all  the  kind 
and  benignant  offices  of  a  brother  ;  and  he  chose  to 
bring  all  this  before  the  eye  of  their  mind,  in  order  to 
make  it  impossible  for  them  ever  to  doubt  his  love. 
By  reminding  them,  that,  though  once  dead,  he  is  alive 
again,  he  would  teach  them,  that  his  past  days  and 
his  present  life  are  both  devoted  to  the  same  object,  the 
salvation  of  his  people — that,  so  far  from  neglecting 
their  interests  in  consequence  of  his  exaltation,  he  loves 
them  the  more,  the  more  he  does  for  them  and  the 
more  he  becomes  capable  of  blessing  them — that  he 
would  have  them  to  believe,  and  to  act  on  the  belief, 
that,  whatever  the  dignity  to  which  he  is  raised,  he 
values  that  dignity  chiefly  as  it  gives  him  the  power 
of  blessing  them — and  raising  them  to  a  joint  partici- 
pation of  his  glory.     By  adverting  to  his  divine  title  as 


A    SERMON.  157 

"  the  first  and  the  last,"  he  would  touch  the  spring  of 
hope  in  their  nature  ;  for  it  reminds  them,  that,  as  his 
servants,  they  may  calculate  on  all  his  influence  in 
heaven,  and  on  all  his  omnipotence  on  earth.  It  is  as 
if  he  had  said,  "  Having  received  a  life,  which  for 
your  redemption  I  laid  down,  I  have  now  no  other  em- 
ployment but  to  bring  the  happiness  of  my  people  to 
full  perfection  ;  all  the  difficult  part  of  the  work  is 
over  ;  had  there  been  any  doubts  concerning  my  love 
for  man,  any  objections  to  my  power  to  save,  they 
should  have  been  made  prior  to  my  incarnation,  and 
sufferings  and  death  ;  the  time  for  making  them  now 
is  gone  by ;  then  was  indeed  the  travail  and  pang  of 
infinite  love,  but  it  is  past ;  I  am  to  be  scourged  no 
more — to  be  buffeted  no  more-^crucified  no  more — 
in  agonies  no  more — I  die  no  more — "  death  has  no 
more  dominion  over  me ;"  all  that  is  penal  is  exhaust- 
ed ;  the  cup  of  suffering  is  drained  ;  the  ignominy  is 
ended,  never,  never  to  be  repeated — "  it  is  finished  ;"  all 
that  was  toilsome  I  have  done ;  all  that  was  painful  I  have 
borne  ;  nothing  now  remains,  but  what  is  pleasant, 
god-like,  glorious.  I  am  now  on  my  throne,  with  all 
things  at  my  disposal,  unless  you  can  suppose,  there- 
fore, that  I  could  deny  myself,  abandon  my  design, 
forget  the  very  purpose  for  which  I  hung  on  the  cross, 
sacrifice  the  intention  which  has  always  been  nearest 
my  heart,  you  must  believe  that  I  who  "  was  dead  and 
am  alive"  again,  live  for  those  for  whom  I  died. 
Christians  !  your  Lord  hath  no  other  employment  for  his 
infinite  power,  but  in  protecting  his  people — no  other 
employment  for  his  inexhaustible  resources  of  wisdom 
and  grace,  but  in  blessing  and  making  them  happy ; 
and  never  will  he  rest,  never  will  he  count  his  work 
accomplished  or  his  own  happiness  completed — till  he 
has  placed  them  by  his  side  and  crowned  them  with 
his  glory. 

And  that  he  despises  not  the  least  indications  of 
piety  is  evident  from  the  tone  of  all  these  addresses  to 
the  churches.  For  while  he  has  to  complain  in  most 
of  them,  "  I  have  a  few  things  against  thee,"  he  gra- 


158  EPISTLE    TO    THE     CHURCH    IN    SMYRNA  : 

ciously  condescends  to  enumerate  and  point  out  every 
particular,  in  which  they  have  proved  themselves  faith- 
ful and  sincere.  Not  more  fondly  does  a  parent  search, 
in  the  features  of  his  infant  child,  for  the  least  trace  of 
resemblance  to  himself — not  more  minutely  do  men 
search  over  whole  districts  of  land,  and  examine  par- 
ticle by  particle,  washing  the  earth,  in  pursuit  of  gems 
or  gold,  than  the  Saviour  investigates  whole  churches 
in  quest  of  the  treasures  of  piety — the  features  of  the 
renewed  mind.  And  lest  there  should  be  but  one  such 
partaker  of  piety  in  a  whole  church,  he  addresses  his 
promise  individually  to  ^'  him  that  overcometh  ;"  as 
if  he  should  say,  '  Though  my  church  should  become 
so  pervaded  with  worldliness  and  overrun  with  error, 
that  only  one  individual  continued  faithful  and  true, 
he  should  not  escape  my  notice.  I  would  lead  him 
out  from  the  crowd  around  him,  and  honour  him  in  the 
presence  of  my  Father,  and  crown  him  before  the  eyes 
of  angels.  Some  of  these  churches  had  almost  out- 
lived their  piety  ;  what  remained  of  vital  godliness  he 
described  as  "  ready  to  die."  Instead,  however,  of 
extinguishing  "  the  smoking  flax"  and  expiring  flame, 
he  sought  to  kindle  it  afresh,  by  awakening  within 
them  emulation  and  hope — by  showing  them,  that, 
although  their  Christian  character  was  reduced  to  a 
mere  wreck,  there  were  still  materials,  out  of  which 
might  be  built  up  a  temple  of  holiness,  "  a  habitation 
of  God  through  the  Spirit." 

IV.  But  then,  fourthly,  in  order  that  we  may  not 
abuse  this  goodness  by  resting  satisfied  with  slender 
piety,  the  Saviour  intimates  that  the  life  of  the  Chris- 
tian is  a  state  of  warfare^  and  as  such^  requiring 
activity  and  effort.  He  here  addresses  his  people  as 
warriors,  speaks  of  the  persevering  believer  as  one 
"that  overcometh,"  and  of  heaven  as  a  world  of 
conquerors. 

At  that  time  it  is  true,  believers  were  exposed,  not 
only  to  foes  within,  but  also  to  foes  without.  Many  of 
them  could  boast,  that  their  persons  were  covered  with 
the  scars  of  the  Christian  conflict.     They  led  the  van 


A    SERMON.  159 

of  the  army  of  the  cross ;  they  stormed  the  very 
strongest  holds  of  idolatry  and  sin  ;  they  proclaimed 
the  name  of  their  sovereign  Lord,  "  where  satan's  seat 
was  ;"  though  earth  and  hell  had  confederated  and 
drawn  out  their  forces,  and  encountered  them  in  their 
path,  they  advanced  with  the  standard  of  the  cross, 
and  planted  it  in  the  very  citadel  of  satan.  Would 
you  know  the  result  of  their  warfare  ?  Their  progress 
from  place  to  place  was  marked — not  indeed  with 
blood,  or,  if  so,  with  no  blood  but  their  own — but  with 
the  fall  of  idol  temples,  the  plantation  of  Christian 
churches,  the  trophies  of  ransomed  human  souls,  and 
with  the  song  of  the  Christian  warrior,  exulting,  "  Now 
thanks  be  to  God,  who  causeth  us  to  triumph  in  every 
place." 

Do  you  admire  their  heroic  devotion — their  self- 
sacrificing  piety  ?  It  is  meant  that  you  should  more 
than  admire  it — that  you  should  imbibe  and  imitate. 
You  may  not  indeed  be  called  to  put  it  in  actual  prac- 
tice, to  any  thing  like  the  extent  they  did  ;  but  the 
spirit  of  their  piety  you  must  have,  for  the  Christian 
life  is  a  conflict  still.  The  same  principle  of  loyalty 
and  love  to  Christ  you  must  possess ;  and  from  that 
same  principle  must  you  resolutely  pass  by,  without 
entering  all  the  avenues  of  sinful  pleasure,  and  close 
your  eyes  on  the  dazzling,  but  empty  illusions,  by 
which  the  children  of  this  world  are  enchanted.  You 
must  resist  temptation,  and  rise  superior  to  selfish  in- 
dulgence, and  disregard  the  scoffs  and  derision,  which 
men  may  cast  against  piety  ;  and  you  must  challenge 
and  put  to  flight  whatever  would  come  between  you 
and  the  gate  of  heaven.  "  If  any  man  love  his  life 
more  than  me,"  said  Christ,  "  he  is  not  worthy  of  me." 
The  question  whether  you  do  or  not  may  never  in  this 
world  be  put  to  the  test ;  but  the  importance  of  pos- 
sessing the  principle  of  supreme  attachment  to  Christ 
is  precisely  the  same.  If  you  do  not  possess  that  at- 
tachment to  him,  which  would  enable  you  to  show,  if 
called  to  the  test,  that  you  love  him  more  than  life 
itself,  you  are  unworthy  of  him.     If  you  are  desti- 


160  EPISTLE    TO    THE    CHURCH    IN    SMYRNA  : 

tute  of  this  principle,  it  will  not  be  necessary  to  put 
your  sincerity  to  a  very  severe  test.  Any  little  temp- 
tation or  little  obstacle  will  be  sufficient  to  move  you 
away  from  it ;  the  world  need  not  frown  and  threaten 
you  with  persecution — her  pleasures  will  allure,  her 
'  snares  will  entangle  and  ruin  you.  But  possessed  by 
the  love  of  Christ,  feeling  your  obligations  to  him,  look- 
ing forward  to  a  crown  and  a  kingdom  with  him,  "  none 
of  these  things"  will  "  move  you  ;"  life  itself  will  be 
held  in  entire  submission  to  his  pleasure  ;  and,  like  a 
Christian  soldier,  you  will  be  animated,  through  every 
change  and  season  of  life,  with  the  desire  that  you 
may  fight  the  good  fight  of  faith,  and  be  crowned  with 
the  smiles  and  approbation  of  your  God  and  Saviour. 

V.  And  then,  fifthly  to  secure  the  persevering 
fidelity  and  allegiance  of  his  people,  the  Saviour  prom- 
ises them  a  heavenly  reward, 

A  promise  of  this  kind  is  here  made  to  most  of  his 
churches ;  and  to  each  is  promised  a  different  reward 
— by  which  he  would  probably  remind  us,  both  of  his 
vast  and  various  resources  in  being  able  to  give  to 
every  one  a  different  blessing,  and  also  that  he  will 
dispense  his  gifts  discriminate ly,  each  being  appropri- 
ate for  the  character  who  receives  it. 

The  gift,  which  he  held  before  the  eyes  of  the 
church  at  Smyrna,  was  "  a  crown  of  life."  A  crown 
is  the  summit  of  human  ambition.  To  obtain  this  em- 
blem of  royalty,  what  deeds  of  daring  have  men  often 
acheived  !  what  rivers  of  blood  have  they  shed  !  what 
enormous  guilt  have  they  incurred  !  "  Now  they  do 
it  to  obtain  a  corruptible  crown,  but  we  an  incorrupti- 
ble." And  do  the  annals  of  the  church  record  no 
deeds  of  heroism,  achieved  to  obtain  that  living  crown  ? 
Who  does  not  instantly  think  of  Paul  ?  Who  does  not 
hear  him,  in  imagination,  as  he  stands  tranquilly  gaz- 
ing for  a  moment  on  the  axe  and  block,  then  lifting  up 
his  eyes  to  his  crown,  exclaiming  with  delight,  "  I  am 
ready" — "  ready  to  be  offered,  and  the  time  of  my 
departure  is  at  hand  ?"  This  is  the  language  of  heroic 
Christian  self-devotion.     In  the  ear  of  the  selfish  and 


A    SERMON.  161 

the  worldling — it  doubtless  sounds  extravagant  and  ab- 
surd ;  in  the  ear  of  God,  and  indeed  of  ev^ry  intelli- 
gent, enlightened  being,  it  is  only  the  language  of 
sobriety  and  wisdom.  It  was  dictated  by  no  mere 
momentary  impulse  of  zeal,  but  was  the  result  of  a 
sober  calculation  frequently  repeated,  and  of  enlight- 
ened principle  gradually  matured.  There  was  a  time, 
when,  in  common  with  the  world,  he  regarded  life  as 
superlatively  valuable ;  but  he  now  regarded  it  as 
comparatively  despicable,  for  he  had  found  an  object 
of  unspeakably  greater  importance. 

Others  might  copy  the  example  of  their  fellow  men  ; 
but  he  had  long  since  risen  to  the  high  and  holy  ambi- 
tion of  copying  the  example  of  incarnate  perfection, 
"God  manifest  in  the  flesh,"  Others  might  waste 
their  precious  time  in  ease,  and  sloth,  and  worldly  in- 
dulgence ;  but  he  aspired  to  enter  into  the  counsels  of 
heaven,  to  become  a  co-worker  together  with  God,  to 
lay  his  hand  on  the  vast  machinery  of  providence,  and 
to  mingle  in  the  operations  of  Almighty  love,  in  renew- 
ing and  blessing  a  world  of  apostate,  but  immortal  be- 
ings. Others  might  think  only  of  enjoying  and  pro- 
longing their  natural  life — a  life  made  up  of  hours  and 
moments ;  but  his  eye  was  fixed  on  a  higher  and  no- 
bler order  of  life,  his  heart  was  set  on  an  "  eternal 
weight  of  glory."  Others  might  content  themselves 
with  the  praise  of  men,  with  the  good  opinion  of  crea- 
tures perishing  like  themselves ;  but  he  aspired  to  the 
high  distinction  of  pleasing  God — of  being  received 
and  welcomed  into  the  presence  of  the  Supreme,  with 
the  sentence,  "  Well  done  good  and  faithful  servant" 
— and  of  hearing  that  sentence  echoed  and  applauded, 
by  all  the  wise  and  the  blessed  in  the  universe.  These 
were  the  objects,  at  which  he  aimed,  and  which  filled 
the  whole  sphere  of  his  vision.  Comparatively  speak- 
ing, he  saw  nothing  else.  Ease  might  ofier  him  indul- 
gence, wealth  might  display  her  bribe,  pleasure  might 
exhibit  her  charms — but  these  had  lost  their  power  to 
tempt ;  to  him  they  had  long  since  become  objects  of 
supreme  indifference.  Persecution  might  bring  out 
11 


162  EPISTLE    TO    THE    CHURCH    IN    SMYRNA  I 

and  spread  in  his  path  a  fearful  array  of  scourges,  and 
chains,  and  axes — ^all  the  instruments  and  apparatus  of 
torture  and  of  death ;  but  he  looked  at  the  cross  and 
saw  the  incarnate  Saviour  suspended  there,  and  he 
"  armed  himself  likewise  with  the  same  mind  ;"  he 
looked  around,  and  he  saw  the  assembled  church  of 
Christ,  urging — for  the  sake  of  the  Gospel,  for  the 
sake  of  Christ,  for  the  sake  of  perishing  humanity — 
to  go  forward ;  he  looked  above — ^and  he  saw  a  great 
"  cloud  of  witnesses,"  bending  with  intense  attention 
from  their  blessed  seats,  and  beyond  and  above  them 
all,  he  saw  the  throne  of  the  Lamb,  and  him  that  sat 
on  it,  and  in  his  hand  a  glorious  crown  of  life,  and  he 
saw  that  it  was  extended  towards  him  ;  and  thus  sus- 
tained— he  could  point  to  all  the  instruments  of  tor- 
ture, and  exclaim,  "  None  of  these  things  move  me," 
"  I  am  ready,  not  only  to  be  bound,  but  to  die  for  the 
name  of  the  Lord  Jesus."  Henceforth  there  is  laid 
up  for  me  (I  have  seen  it,)  "  a  crown  of  righteous- 
ness, which  the  Lord  the  righteous  Judge  shall  give 
me  at  that  day." 

But  Paul  was  only  one  of  a  "  noble  army  of  mar- 
tyrs." Actuated  by  the  same  lofty  principles,  and 
fired  by  the  same  anticipations  of  glory,  the  weak  be- 
came irresistibly  strong,  the  timid  dared  to  do  and  to 
die  for  Christ.  These  principles  retain  their  efficacy 
still ;  and  you  profess  to  be  influenced  and  ruled  by 
them.  Are  you  bringing  forth  their  appropriate  fruit  ? 
Still  does  the  Saviour  continue  to  unveil  and  exhibit 
the  prize,  which  he  has  promised  to  holy  perseverance, 
bringing  out  all  the  crowns — the  regalia  of  heaven — 
and  suspending  them  from  his  throne ;  and  thus  sus- 
pending and  exhibiting  them,  he  reminds  you  that 
they  are  placed  there  to  be  won.  Oh  !  reflect  that  the 
prize,  for  which  as  Christians  you  are  candidates,  is  a 
crown — a  crown  of  life.  When  tempted  to  relax  in 
your  efforts  after  holiness,  it  will  nerve  you  afresh  to 
remember  that  you  are  on  the  way  to  the  enjoyment 
of  eternal  life — life  with  God,  the  life  of  God  himself. 
All  other  things  at  best  are  mere  accessaries  to  happi- 


A    SERMON.  163 

ness ;  this  life,  at  which  you  are  aiming,  is  happiness 
itself.  It  is  more  than  existence,  more  than  a  bare 
perpetuity  of  existence ;  it  is  life  enriched  with  the 
highest  possible  blessings — life  purified,  exalted,  appli- 
ed to  the  loftiest  purposes,  carried  out  to  its  utmost  ex- 
tent of  enjoyment — the  very  "  crown  of  life."  And 
should  the  contest  for  such*  a  prize  be  feebly  carried 
on  ? 

Christians !  you  are  surrounded  by  "  clouds  o 
witnesses,"  Angels  behold  you ;  at  the  moment  of 
your  conversion,  there  was  joy  among  them,  "  in  the 
presence  of  God  ;"  and  still  they  mark  every  step  you 
take,  and  tune  their  harps  afresh  every  time  you  tri- 
umph over  sin,  and  open  wider  the  gates  of  heaven 
for  your  reception  every  time  you  put  forth  a  success- 
ful effort  after  holiness.  The  church  beholds  you; 
and  sympathizes  with  you,  prays  for  you  and  rejoices 
in  your  progress.  The  wicked  behold  you  ;  and  innu- 
merable are  the  snares,  which  they  lay  for  your  ruin ; 
but  "  greater  is  he  that  is  for  you,  than  all  they  that 
are  against  you."  God  your  Saviour  beholds  you  ;  he 
is  a  witness  of  your  course,  he  commands  you  to  ad- 
vance, stretches  forth  his  hand  to  assist  you,  and  while 
he  holds  up  to  view  in  the  radiance  of  his  throne  "  the 
prize  of  your  high  calling,"  his  voice  from  heaven 
proclaims — "  Be  thou  faithful  unto  death,"  and  this 
shall  be  thine — "  I  will  give  thee  a  crown  of  life." 

VI.  And  then,  sixthly,  the  text  suggests  certain 
incidental  methods^  by  which  the  individual  Christian^ 
or  a  particular  church  is  to  be  excited  to  achieve  this 
warfare^  and  to  obtain  this  crown. 

Indirectly  it  calls  on  every  member  of  every  church 
to  which  it  comes,  to  institute  a  solemn  examination  of 
his  spiritual  history  and  state ;  "  He  that  hath  ears  to 
hear,  let  him  hear  what  the  Spirit  saith  unto  the 
churches," — what  the  Spirit  saith  to  this  particular 
church.  "  Blow  ye  the  trumpet,  sanctify  a  fast,  call  a 
solemn  assembly."  As  if  the  trumpets  of  Sinai  had 
convoked  you  together  here,  as  if  you  were  one  of 
seven  churches,  to  which  Christ  had  this  morning  dis- 


164  EPISTLE  TO    THE    CHURCH    IN    SMYRNA  I 

patched  an  epistle — suffer  the  word  of  exhortation,  and 
lay  yourselves  open  to  its  searching  influence.  As  if 
he  himself  had  come  down  to  conduct  the  solemn  pro- 
cess of  investigation,  invite  him  to  ascend  the  seat  of 
judgment,  and  say,  "  Search  us,  O  God,  and  see  what 
evil  there  is  in  us,  and  lead  us  in  the  way  everlasting." 
Let  silence  be  proclaimed  and  every  heart  be  laid 
bare. 

To  "  the  angel  of  the  church,"  to  him  who  is  here 
appointed  to  watch  for  souls,  the  eye  of  flaming  fire  is 
directed  first ;  awful  intimation  this  of  ministerial  re- 
sponsibility !  Is  he  prepared  to  render  an  account  ? 
Though  his  ministry  in  this  place  has  been  exercised 
but  a  few  short  months,  materials  for  a  solemn  audit 
have  been  accumulating  every  moment.  Has  the  mo- 
mentous design  of  his  ministry  been  fulfilled  ?  Souls 
are  perishing,  souls  have  been  perishing  during  the 
whole  time,  and  he  is  here  instrumentally  to  save 
them ;  has  he  "  watched  for  your  souls,  as  one  that 
must  give  account."  Oh !  amidst  the  wide  wasting 
ruin  of  immortal  souls,  has  he  by  prayers,  by  entrea- 
ties, by  the  Spirit  of  God,  saved  one  ?  "  The  sword  of 
the  Spirit,"  that  sword  without  a  sheath — has  been  in 
his  hand  ;  has  it  been  so  wielded,  that  his  people  have 
felt  its  keen,  sin-separating,  soul-subduing  edge  ?  In 
coming  to  the  pulpit,  he  Aas  had  to  pass  by  the  cross ; 
yes,  the  cross — that  wondrous  sight,  from  which  an- 
gels, since  the  moment  they  "  desired  to  look  into"  it, 
have  never  beeni  able  to  withdraw  their  admiring  re- 
gards ;  that  wondrous  sight,  on  which  the  eternal  Fa- 
ther himself  is  ever  gazing  with  infinite  complacency ; 
has  he  cried,  "  Behold  the  Lamb  of  God  ?"  Can  he 
say  to  his  people,  "  Before  your  eyes  Jesus  Christ  has 
evidently  been  set  forth  crucified  among  you  .^" 

Let  the  officers  and  members  of  the  church  appear, 
and  bear  the  scrutiny.  As  private  Christians,  are  you 
looking  upon  character,  holy  character,  as  of  the  high- 
est order  of  excellence,  labouring  to  attain  it,  and 
daily  renewing  the  act  of  your  self-dedication  to  God  ? 
As  heads  of  families,  is  the  daily  sacrifice  presented 


A   SERMON.  165 

on  the  domstic  altar,  and  are  you  walking  before  your 
households  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord  ?  As  members  of 
civil  society,  is  your  life  exhaling  the  influence  of 
Christian  consistency  and  excellence  ?  As  members 
of  this  Christian  church,  are  you  sufficiently  alive  to 
the  dignity  of  your  high  vocation  ?  Are  you  tender  of 
each  other^s  reputation,  bearing  each  other's  burdens, 
praying  for  each  other's  welfare,  sympathizing,  united, 
as  members  of  the  same  body  ?  Do  you  promptly 
and  cordially  meet  your  minister  in  his  designs  of  use- 
fulness ?  As  Lord  of  the  church,  Christ  has  legislat- 
ed for  your  government ;  are  his  laws  of  discipline 
faithfully  administered  ?  When  this  sacred  place  was 
opened,  we  may  suppose  that  God  gave  it  a  name ; 
*'  My  house  shall  be  called  a  house  of  prayer ;"  has  it 
answered  to  that  name  ?  The  first  prayer,  offered  by 
an  individual  even,  engages  the  notice  and  approbation 
of  heaven  ;  "  behold,"  it  is  said,  "  he  prayeth."  May 
we  not  suppose  that  the  first  prayer,  which  ascends  to 
heaven  from  a  place  dedicated  to  prayer,  attracts  pro- 
portionate regard  ?  '  Behold,'  it  is  said,  '  another  hour 
of  prayer' — another  point  of  holy  assault  opened  on 
the  kingdom  of  heaven,  by  which  "the  violent  will 
take  it  by  force,"  another  point  of  friendly  communi- 
cation, opened  between  earth  and  heaven,  another 
edifice,  whose  hallowed  influence  shall  draw  to  itself 
the  fertilizing  clouds  of  heavenly  grace  !  Brethren, 
have  you  realized  this  expectation  ?  Is  the  Holy  Spirit 
of  God  habitually  invoked  ?  When  this  spot  was  set 
apart  for  the  erection  of  a  house  of  God,  may  we  not 
suppose  that  from  that  moment,  in  angels'  eyes  it  be- 
came hallowed — consecrated  ground,  that  they  watch- 
ed its  rising  walls  with  holy  impatience  and  delight — 
that,  on  the  day  of  its  opening,  when  it  first  echoed  to 
the  sound  of  redemption,  expectation  was  awakened  in 
all  heaven  ?  Brethren,  has  that  expectation  been  an- 
swered ?  Has  good  been  done  ?  Has  the  neighbour- 
hood been  blessed  ?  Are  children  educated  and 
taught,  visits  of  mercy  made,  the  influence  of  your 
activity  beginning  to  be  felt  around,  other  churches 


fftn 


166  EPISTLE    TO    THE     CHURCH    IN    SMYRNA  I 

beginning  to  "  glorify  God  in  you,"  and  "  your  light 
so  shining  before  men,  that  they"  are  beginning  ta 
"glorify  your  Father,  which  is  in  heaven  ?" 

In  addition  to  the  ministers  and  members  of  the 
church,  let  those,  who  attend  here  only  as  hearers,  sub- 
mit to  friendly  interrogation.  You  have  come  as  the 
people  come,  and  sat  as  the  people  sit ;  what  is  the 
result  ?  Angels  attend  to  witness  the  effect ;  has  there 
been  joy  among  them  over  one  instance  of  repent- 
ance ?  The  Bible  is  here,  the  book  of  God  ;  do  you 
sufficiently  prize  it  ?  In  every  age  this  book  has  been 
sprinkled  with  blood ;  a  precious  drop  has  fallen,  even 
on  the  text,  for  it  speaks  of  suffering,  imprisonment, 
and  violent  death.  It  has  been  baptized  with  hre  ;  its 
prevailing  subject  is,  the  sufferings  and  death  of  Christ 
for  our  redemption ;  its  original  propagators  and  pro- 
fessors endured  "  deaths  oft,"  in  preserving  it ;  it  has 
been  transmitted  to  us  through  ages  of  persecution  and 
sorrow  ;  it  has  been  committed  to  us  by  a  hand, 
stretched  out  of  the  midst  of  the  flames  ;  it  has  been 
sent  to  us  from  the  dungeon,  bequeathed  to  us  from  the 
rack ;  it  is  the  precious  legacy  of  a  host  of  martyred 
saints.  Do  you,  I  repeat,  sufficiently  prize  it  ?  do  you 
believe  in  it,  and  press  its  truths  to  your  hearts  ?  They 
all  expect  this  from  you  ;  they  will  demand  it  at  your 
hands  when  you  meet  them  at  the  bar  of  God.  Hear- 
ers of  the  Gospel !  are  you  aware  of  your  position  ? 
The  Gospel  is  "  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation  to 
every  one  that  believeth."  Every  time  you  hear  it, 
you  stand  as  in  the  focus  of  all  the  threatenings,  prom- 
ises, invitations,  commands  and  doctrines  of  the  Bible. 
They  all  gather  around  you,  and  settle  down  upon  you. 
Have  you  not  felt  them,  trembled,  wept,  believed  and 
obeyed  ?  The  Spirit  of  God  is  here — here  to  enlight- 
en dark  minds,  and  renew  depraved  hearts.  Every 
time  you  have  come  here,  you  have  come  within  the 
verge  and  scope  of  his  influence — you  have  been  sur- 
rounded by  him,  as  by  an  all-encompassing  enemy. 
Have  you  not  heard  his  "  still  small  voice,"  felt  his 
quickening  touch,  invoked  his  regenerating  breath  to 


A    SERMON.  167 

breathe  upon  you  ?  Have  you  ever  come  with  a 
desire  and  a  prayer  to  be  converted  ?  What !  are  you 
still  unblest  and  unsaved  ? 

Brethren,  read  over  the  charges  exhibited  against 
the  seven  Asiatic  churches,  and  the  commendations 
pronounced  upon  them,  and  then  say,  were  a  solemn 
inquisition  such  as  this  to  be  held  over  you^  or  to  be 
instituted  by  you,  how  many,  and  which  of  these 
charges,  or  commendations  would  be  applicable  to  you. 
Were  the  Divine  Redeemer  to  dictate  an  epistle  to  you, 
say,  would  its  prevailing  tone  be  more  likely  to  be  one  of 
sympathy  and  approval,  or  of  stern  and  fearful  rebuke. 

The  text  not  only  summonses  you  to  an  examina- 
tion of  your  past  history  and  present  state — it  indirect- 
ly charges  you  to  act  on  a  wise  and  comprehensive  plan 
for  the  future.  In  engaging  that,  if  you  are  "  faith- 
ful unto  death,  he  will  give  you  a  crown  of  life." 
What  is  the  Saviour  but  saying,  '  Let  the  sweep  and 
compass  of  your  plans  take  in  eternity,  view  existence 
as  a  whole.  Let  a  grand  and  comprehensive  purpose 
connect  the  present  moment  with  a  period  ten  thou- 
sand ages  hence  ;  aim  at  the  loftiest  result,  and  resolve 
to  wear  a  crown  in  heaven.'  "  I  will  do,"  said  one  in 
early  life — and  the  resolution  was  a  splendid  instance 
of  moral  sublimity — "  I  will  do  whatever  I  think  to  be 
most  for  God's  glory  and  my  own  good  on  the  whole, 
without  any  consideration  of  time,  whether  now  or 
ever  so  many  myriads  of  ages  hence."  "  That  which 
is  for  God's  glory  and  my  own  good  on  the  whole  ! 
what  is  this,  but  simply  echoing  back  the  language  of 
Christ  in  the  text  ?  It  is  time  doing  homage  to  eterni- 
ty, faith  taking  the  man  up  to  a  distance  from  earth, 
and  bidding  him  look  down  and  look  back  upon  this 
world,  reduced  to  its  little  dimensions  and  vanished  to 
a  point — it  is  the  soul  enjoying  a  foretaste  of  future 
freedom — ascending  the  throne,  asserting  its  sove- 
reignty, and  putting  on  its  promised  crown  before  the 
time.  Go  thou,  and  do  likewise.  Every  thing  urges 
you  to  do  it.  Christ  is  calling  you  to  it ;  momentous 
objects  are  inviting  you.     Only  ascend  that  mount  of 


168  EPISTLE    TO    THE    CHURCH    IN    SMYRNA  : 

vision,  which  commands  the  field  of  the  world  ;  let 
your  survey  take  in  the  whole.  How  vast  the  multi- 
tudes before  you !  how  urgent  and  how  awful  their 
condition  !  how  brief  the  hour  for  benefiting  them  ! 
how  mighty  the  interests  pending  on  that  short  hour  I 
Wherever  your  eye  falls,  it  encounters  some  signal  to 
be  active — some  object  in  an  imploring  or  command- 
ing attitude,  urging  you  to  come  "  to  the  help  of  the 
Lord,  to  the  help  of  the  Lord  against  the  mighty." 
Take  such  a  survey — and  we  will  defy  you  to  be  inac- 
tive, or  to  be  active  only  for  party.  You  will  dissolve 
into  compassion  for  the  world  ;  you  will  join  hearts 
with  all,  who  bear  the  family  likeness  of  Christ ;  you 
will  feel,  that  you  are  an  agent  for  Christ ;  a  dignity 
which  gives  you  angels  for  your  companions — that 
you  stand  related  to  that  infinite  circumference  of 
which  Christ  is  the  central  glory — and  that,  thus  living 
for  the  universe,  you  will  be  preparing  for  a  crown, 
and  for  a  place  on  the  throne  of  Christ  your  Lord. 

Brethren,  the  messages  of  Christ  to  the  Asiatic 
churches  required  that  they  should  amend  at  once  ; 
for  the  delivery  of  those  messages  was  a  crisis  in  their 
history.  The  opening  of  a  house  of  God,  or  the  an- 
niversary of  such  an  event  is  often  a  crisis  in  the  ex- 
istence of  a  church — a  message  from  Christ  to  its 
minister  and  members — the  opening  of  a  new  page  in 
its  history.  Let  the  first  line  in  that  page  to-day 
record  your  holy  determination  to  live  for  a  crown ; 
and  it  shall  be  followed — it  shall  be  countersigned  by 
the  promise  of  God,  "From  this  day  will  I  bless 
you." 

And  as  a  final  inducement,  the  Saviour  indirectly 
reminds  us  that,  the  Spirit  is  present — the  Holy  Spirit 
is  present  in  the  church  expressly  to  reprove  and  assist, 
and  animate  its  members.  By  commanding  us  to 
"  hear  what  the  Spirit  saith,"  though  he  himself  is  the 
speaker,  he  would  intimate  that  every  thing  in  the 
church — every  voice — even  his  own — is  in  a  sense 
subordinated  to  the  Spirit — that  even  his  voice  can  be 
heard  with  salutary  effect,  only  as  the  Spirit  repeats  it, 


A  SERMON.  169 

and  conveys  it  into  the  soul.  And  is  it  true,  that  a  re- 
gard to  the  Spirit  would  have  saved  those  churches 
from  decay  and  death  ?  And  is  it  true,  that  this  divine 
Spirit  is  in  the  church  still,  that  we  can  obtain  his  un- 
measured influences,  and  that  his  aid,  if  sought  for  and 
obtained,  could  make  this  church  the  largest,  purest  and 
most  flourishing  in  the  land  ?  Yes,  it  could  raise  even 
those  seven  churches  from  their  long  mouldering  ruins, 
and  carry  their  prosperity  to  a  pitch,  which  even  in 
their  primitive  state  they  never  saw.  Oh !  how  long 
shall  our  state  of  comparative  barrenness  continue  ? 
"  Until  the  Spirit  be  poured  out  from  on  high ;"  then 
"  the  wilderness  will  be  a  fruitful  field,  and  the  fruitful 
field  be  counted  for  a  forest."  Yes  ;  in  the  scheme  of 
salvation,  every  instrument  and  agent  has  its  appropri- 
ate place,  and  its  appointed  order  of  success.  In  that 
arrangement  the  Spirit  is  the  prime  mover  of  the 
whole.  Hence  the  first  prayer  of  Christ,  on  his  as- 
cension to  heaven,  was  for  the  eflusion  of  the  Spirit ; 
till  that  was  "  poured  out  from  on  high,"  the  work  of 
redemption  itself,  though  he  had  just  pronounced  it 
"  finished,"  stood  still ;  but  when  it  came,  every  thing 
was  put  into  motion,  the  world  itself  vibrated,  the  very 
gates  of  hell  shook.  The  first  prayer  of  the  church, 
then,  should  be  for  the  same  object.  Oh!  let  that 
Spirit  be  sought  for  first  as  a  Spirit  of  prayer.  Our 
prayers  would  infallibly  draw  down  fresh  supplies  of 
his  influence  ;  these  fresh  supplies  of  his  influence 
would  as  certainly  lead  to  increased  prayer  for  still 
larger  eflusions  of  his  grace — and  thus  by  action  and 
reaction  our  prayers  would  continually  enlarge  in  their 
progress,  and  insure  increased  prosperity  to  the  whole 
church  of  Christ. 

Brethren,  an  appeal  is  about  to  be  made  to  your 
Christian  liberality.  Does  the  interest  of  Christ  press 
on  your  heart  ?  We  will  defy  you  to  withhold  your 
property  from  it.  Do  you  sympathize  with  Christ  in 
"the  travail  of  his  soul?"  Oh!  if  that  sympathy  be 
sincere,  it  will  turn  your  whole  soul  into  desire,  it  will 
convert  your  very  gifts  into  prayers — they  will  consti- 


170  EPISTLE    TO    THE    CHURCH    IN    SMYRNA. 

tute  a  part  of  your  devotion.  Like  the  eastern  Magi, 
the  act  of  falling  down  to  adore  him,  and  of  pouring 
out  at  his  feet  "  gold,  and  frankincense  and  myrrh" 
will,  with  you,  be  one  and  the  same  act.  And  though 
your  gift  may  be  small  compared  with  your  enlarged 
desires,  he,  who  graciously  distinguishes  between  the 
will  and  the  means,  will  say,  as  he  said  of  the  church 
at  Smyrna — will  say,  as  you  cast  your  gift  into  the 
treasury,  "  I  know  thy  poverty,  but  thou  art  rich." 

Brethren,  in  praying  for  the  impartation  of  the 
Spirit,  you  are  imploring  a  spirit  of  Christian  liberality 
— liberality  for  yourselves,  and  for  the  whole  church. 
You  are,  in  effect,  praying  that  all  the  powers  of  na- 
ture, all  the  resources  of  providence,  all  the  wealth 
and  greatness  of  the  world  may  be  pressed  into  the 
service  of  Christ.  For  only  let  "  the  Spirit  be  poured 
out  from  on  high,"  and  you  enlist  into  his  cause  every 
species  of  instrumentality,  which  men  can  possess. 
"  The  abundance  of  the  sea  shall  be  converted  unto 
thee,  the  forces  of  the  Gentiles  shall  come  unto  thee, 
the  multitude  of  camels  shall  cover  thee,  the  drome- 
daries of  Midian  and  Ephah ;  all  they  from  Sheba 
shall  come  ;  they  shall  bring,"  they — the  most  unlike- 
ly nien  on  the  face  of  the  earth — "  shall  bring  gold 
and  incense,  and  they  shall  show  forth  the  praises  of 
the  Lord."  Every  thing  will  be  brought  as  an  expres- 
sion of  love  to  Christ,  and  to  adorn  his  triumph.  His 
ministers  will  not  have  to  walk  the  land,  as  beggars  in 
his  cause.  Places  like  this,  dedicated  to  his  adoration 
and  worship,  will  not  struggle  year  after  year  for  ex- 
istence, with  the  weight  of  a  millstone  of  debt  around 
their  neck.  Nothing — nothing  will  be  deemed  too 
costly  for  the  great  occasion.  "  All  majesty  shall  bow 
before  him — kings  shall  wait  in  his  train" — the  spoils 
of  earthly  grandeur  be  laid  at  his  feet — and  Christ 
"  alone  be  exalted  in  that  day." 


THE  HOUSE  OF  PRAYER: 
A  SERMON 


DELIVERED  AT  TREVOR  CHAPEL,  BROMPTON,  ON  THE 
RE-OPENING  OF  THE  CHAPEL,  AFTER  ENLARGE- 
MENT AND  REPAIRS,  LONDON,  AUGUST  27,  1837. 

Mine  house  shall  be  called  a  house  of  prayer  for  all  people. 

Isaiah  Ivi.  7. 

In  the  ordinary  course  of  preaching,  it  is,  perhaps, 
desirable  to  limit  attention  to  particular  truths,  and  their 
personal,  practical  application.  Occasions  sometimes 
arise,  however,  or  subjects  present  themselves,  which 
seem  to  invite  the  mind  to  a  loftier  range  and  a  more 
comprehensive  view  of  truth — occasions,  when,  almost 
unbidden,  the  past  yields  up  its  treasures — and  ages 
with  the  men  who  have  made  them  memorable,  dispen- 
sations with  the  miraculous  facts  and  the  sublime  dis- 
closures which  distinguished  them,  the  futurity  of  time 
with  its  distant  horizon  clothed  in  flames,  and  eternity 
with  all  the  plans  of  God  fulfilled,  pass  in  succession 
before  our  eyes.  The  dedication  of  a  house  to  the 
worship  and  service  of  God — or  the  re-opening  of  such 
a  place — may  be  regarded  as  one  of  those  occasions  ; 
for  it  is  an  event,  which  springs  out  of  all  the  past,  and 
which  stands  related  to  all  the  future.  The  text,  too, 
comes  in  aid  of  the  occasion,  calling  up  recollections 
of  ancient  times  and  early  revelations,  and  pointing  us 
onward  to  a  day,  when,  as  the  grand  result  of  all  that 
God  has  planned,  and  Christ  has  sufl^ered,  and  the 
Spirit  has  efl^ected,  the  world  shall  be  seen  prostrate 
before  God  in  prayer.     This  we  regard,  if  not  as  the 


172  THE    HOUSE    OF    PRAYER  : 

principal,  as  an  important  doctrine  of  the  text :  and 
this,  therefore,  we  propose,  first  to  illustrate,  and, 
secondly,  to  apply. 

May  the  Lord  of  the  house  be  graciously  present  by 
his  Spirit,  to  aid  our  endeavour  and  to  bless  his  word ! 

In  order  to  the  realization  of  the  glorious  scene 
glanced  at  in  the  text,  in  which  the  world  shall  finally 
be  seen  prostrate  before  God  in  prayer,  the  first  and 
earliest  step  necessary  was  the  revelation  of  the  divine 
existence.  For  "  he  that  cometh  to  God  must  believe 
that  he  is ;"  and  "  how  shall  they  call  upon  him,  of 
whom  they  have  not  heard  ?"  This  fact  takes  us 
back,  in  thought,  to  the  time  when  the  knowledge  of 
God  was  lost  from  the  earth — when  the  Lord,  looking 
down  from  heaven  to  see  if  there  were  any,  that  did 
understand  and  seek  God,  beheld  the  appalling  specta- 
cle of  an  entire  race  in  apostacy  from  him,  and  when, 
breaking  the  fearful  silence  which  sin  had  produced, 
he  called  to  his  wondering  creatures,  and  proclaimed, 
I  AM.  This  was  an  era  in  the  moral  history  of  man  ;  for 
it  was,  in  effect,  giving  to  a  world  of  Atheists  a  God. 
There  the  great  object  of  prayer  stood  revealed  before 
them.  Had  they  known  him,  the  world  would  have 
flocked  at  once  in  adoration  to  his  feet. 

But,  secondly,  does  he  take  an  interest  in  the  affairs 
of  the  world  7  for,  if  not,  prayer  to  him  is  useless. 
In  answer  to  the  inquiry,  Sinai  rises  to  view — Sinai 
burning  with  fire,  covered  with  "  blackness,  and  dark- 
ness, and  tempest,"  and  echoing  with  "  the  sound  of  a 
trumpet  and  the  voice  of  words."  God  is  there  legis- 
lating for  sinful  man.  Can  you  question  his  deep  in- 
terest in  human  affairs  ?  Listen  to  his  law,  as  he  pro- 
claims it,  and  mark  how  much  of  it  relates  directly  to 
your  welfare.  Mark  how  it  denounces  a  curse  against 
all,  who  shall  neglect  the  duties  they  owe  to  you — how 
tender  it  is  of  your  life,  denouncing  the  man  who  shall 
even  be  "  angry  with  you  without  a  cause" — how  jeal- 
ously it  guards  your  property,  your  reputation,  every 
thing  dear  to  you — how  it  throws  its  ample  shield  over 
you  and  all  you  have — constitutes  itself  a  watchful 


A    SERMON.  173 

guardian  of  the  whole — accumulates  into  a  wall  of  fire 
around  you — thunders  forth,  Cursed  is  every  one  that 
attempts  to  injure  him — and  requires  all  the  people  to 
say  Amen  ;  requires  the  universe  to  give  a  solemn 
pledge  that  it  will  be  tender  of  your  welfare.  The 
essence  of  the  whole  law  is  love ;  and  that  essence  it 
seeks  to  instil  into  human  hearts,  binding  them  all  to- 
gether in  one  great  community  of  love.  Was  it  pos- 
sible, that  man,  after  that,  could  question  the  kind  in- 
terest of  God  in  human  affairs  ?  Apart  from  the  Gos- 
pel, nothing  in  the  universe  displays  the  divine  benevo- 
lence, so  much  as  the  giving  of  the  law. .  Had  it  beerl 
published  from  Sinai  to  a  holy  and  obedient  race,  it 
would  have  been  received  and  enshrined  with  acclama- 
tions of  delight.  But  it  was  published  for  a  race  in 
rebellious  confederacy  against  him — a  fact  which 
marks  his  benevolence  more  strikingly  still ;  published 
as  a  proof  of  the  divine  presence  among  them  and  of 
his  immediate  government  over  them,  and  published 
as  a  standing  protest  against  human  sinfulness,  with  a 
view  of  awakening  in  the  heart  a  sense  of  guilt  and  a 
loud  cry  for  mercy.  Here,  then,  was  God  furnishing 
the  world  with  another  great  occasion  for  prayer. 
Man  now  not  only  knew  of  His  existence,  but  saw 
that  he  took  a  deep  interest  in  human  welfare  ;  but  as 
it  was  evident  that  we  requited  that  interest  with  diso- 
bedience, nothing  could  have  been  more  natural  and 
proper,  than  an  earnest  importunate,  united  supplica- 
tion of  the  whole  race  for  mercy. 

But  thirdly,  is  the  great  God  accessible  7  That  he 
takes  a  benevolent  interest  in  human  affairs  is  evident ; 
if,  however,  the  terrors  of  Sinai  are  not  laid  aside,  if 
that  is  a  specimen  of  his  usual  state,  who  can  venture 
to  approach  him  ?  "  The  Lord,"  said  Solomon — "  the 
Lord  said  that  he  would  dwell  in  the  thick  darkness  :" 
will  he  emerge  from  that  cloud,  dissipate  that  gloom 
and  allow  man  to  approach  him  ?  The  temple  on 
Zion  is  an  answer  to  that  inquiry.  "  Let  the  people 
build  me  a  sanctuary,"  said  God,  "that  I  may  dwell 
among  them."     This  was  another  stage — a  vast  ad- 


174  THE    HOUSE    OF    PRAYER  I 

vance  in  the  divine  condescension.  To  show  his  own 
sense  of  its  importance,  he  supplied  the  model,  and 
selected  the  spot,  and  superintended  the  erection  of 
the  building.  When  completed,  the  Majesty  of  heav- 
en came  down,  and  visibly  took  possession.  The  very 
idea  that  he  should  do  this  overwhelmed  the  mind  of 
Solomon  with  amazement.  "  Will  God,"  said  he,  "  in 
very  deed"^is  it  not  merely  a  figure — will  he,  in  very 
deed  and  literally,  "  dwell  with  man  upon  the  earth  ? 
behold  heaven  and  the  heaven  of  heavens  cannot  con- 
tain him  ;  how  much  less  this  house  which  I  have 
built?"  will  the  divine  Omnipresence  take  up  his 
dwelling  here  ?  is  not  the  expectation  too  great  to  be 
realised  ?  No,  said  God  ;  ''  this  is  my  rest  for  ever ; 
here  will  I  dwell,  for  I  have  desired  it."  What  amaz- 
ing condescension  is  this  ?  He  might  have  paid  only 
a  transient  visit  there  ;  and  then  we  may  suppose  how 
greatly  would  the  seasons  of  his  visits  have  been  priz- 
ed. But  how  astonishing,  that  he  should  speak  of  it 
as  his  rest,  his  permanent  abode  !  Did  not  the  world 
repair  to  it  ?  When  it  was  rumoured  abroad  that  the 
Lord  of  heaven  had  a  house  upon  earth,  did  not  the 
guilty  race  come  to  cast  themselves  at  his  feet,  and 
sue  for  mercy  ?     That  was  the  object  of  his  coming. 

But  will  he,  it  might  be  asked  in  the  next  place — 
will  he  pardon  7  His  house  may  be  filled  with  thun- 
derbolts of  justice  and  with  ministers  of  destruction, 
for  man  has  deserved  it ;  accessible  he  may  be,  but  is 
he  propitious  ?  Approach,  and  read  the  inscription 
over  its  gates — the  "  house  of  prayer."  Then  there 
is  hope  for  the  penitent,  there  is  pardon  for  the  guilty. 
Let  us  enter,  and  ascertain.  On  crossing  the  threshold 
and  looking  around,  we  find  that  it  is  distributed  into 
three  parts.  We  find  ourselves  at  first  in  the  court  of 
the  temple ;  here  the  principal  objects  are  a  great 
altar  of  sacrifice,  and  a  laver — in  which  the  sacrifices 
are  washed ;  What  mean  that  cleansing  water  and 
that  bleeding  lamb  ?  They  say,  as  plainly  as  they 
can,  that,  "  that  without  shedding  of  blood,  there  is  no 
remission"  of  sins,  and  that  the  victim,  whose  blood 


A    SERMON.  175 

is  shed,  must  be  washed — must  be  spotless.  We  ad- 
vance, and  find  ourselves  in  the  second  part — the  holy- 
place  ;  here  the  principal  objects  are  a  golden  candle- 
stick, a  table  of  shewbread,  and  an  altar  of  incense  ; 
and  what  mean  these  objects  ?  They  denote,  that  the 
sacrifice  in  the  outer  court  is  accepted — that  God  is 
propitiated,  that  he  is  waiting  to  illuminate  and  anoint 
his  worshipers  with  the  Spirit,  to  feast  their  souls  on 
"  living  bread,"  to  accept  their  praises  as  grateful  in- 
cense. But  what  means  that  mysterious  veil,  which 
conceals  the  third  part  of  the  temple — the  holiest  of 
all  ?  It  denotes,  that  sinful  man  can  fully  approach  a 
Holy  God  only  through  a  divine  Mediator,  and  that  that 
Mediator  is  not  yet  come.  But  we  know  what  is  with- 
in ;  there  stands  the  ark  of  the  covenant,  and  the  mer- 
cy-seat resting  upon  it,  denoting  mercy  resting  on 
faithfulness — and  there  are  the  cherubims  overshadow- 
ing the  mercy-seat,  intimating  the  reverence  with 
which  even  mercy  itself  should  be  sought,  and  the 
profound  mystery  which  it  involves.  But  what  means 
that  mass  of  dazzling  light  above  ?  It  is  the  symbol 
of  the  divine  presence  ;  God  is  there.  And  why  dwells 
he  there  ?  That  men  may  come  and  fall  down  before 
him,  and  that  he  may  commune  with  them  from  off 
the  mercy-seat.  Why  dwells  he  there  ?  Do  you  not 
see  through  his  gracious  design  ?  He  makes  it  his 
rest,  that  men  may  come  to  him  and  make  it  their  rest. 
Numbers,  through  successive  ages,  availed  themselves 
of  his  grace.  There  penitence  often  smote  on  its 
breast,  till  its  tears  were  wiped  away ;  there  conscious 
guilt  lost  its  tormenting  sting,  and  first  found  peace  ; 
fear  lifted  up  its  eye  and  smiled ;  faith  looked  up  in 
the  face  of  God,  and  appealed  to  the  heart  of  God,  as 
it  stood  with  its  hand  on  the  head  of  ihe  victim  ;  there 
prophets,  and  kings,  and  the  righteous  men  of  many 
generations  bowed  down  in  prayer,  and  found  accep- 
tance with  God. 

But  everything  there,  gracious  as  it  was,  calculated 
as  it  was  to  bring  the  people  in  humble  prostration  be- 
fore God,  existed  only  in  type  and  promise  ;  it  may  be 


176  THE    HOUSE    OF    PKAYER  : 

asked,  therefore,  in  the  next  place,  have  those  types 
been  accomplished  ?  That  temple  is  gone,  its  splen- 
dours have  vanished,  its  most  sacred  things  have  dis- 
appeared, the  whole  economy  is  abolished,  the  very 
nation  itself  scattered  to  the  winds  of  heaven ;  are 
those  promises  fulfilled  ?  Oh  !  what  stupendous  scenes 
arise,  and  present  themselves  in  reply.  "  The  fulness 
of  time"  arrives,  and  behold  God  sending  forth  his 
Son.  All  heaven  is  wondering  and  rejoicing,  for  in 
his  person  divinity  and  humanity  have  at  length  met ; 
before,  they  had  been  only  approaching  each  other — 
but  they  have  met,  coalesced  and  become  one  ;  he  has 
taken  our  nature  and  has  made  a  temple  of  that ;  God 
is  "  manifest  in  the  flesh."  Calvary  appears  ;  there, 
as  our  substitute,  he  is  making  an  infinite  compensa- 
tion for  our  demerit,  washing  out  the  guilt  of  the 
world  with  his  blood,  dying,  that  God  may  never  more 
be  more  angry  with  man — that  man  may  never  deny 
or  grieve  the  love  of  God.  The  day  of  Pentecost 
arrives ;  behold,  in  its  scenes,  a  proof  that  our  Advo- 
cate has  entered  on  his  office  of  intercession  above, 
and  that  his  sacrificial  plea  prevails,  for  lo  !  the  Spirit 
is  "  poured  out  from  on  high,"  and  thousands  bow  in 
meek  subjection  to  his  power,  constituting  at  once  the 
means  and  the  pledge  that  his  house  shall  become  "  a 
house  of  prayer  for  all  people." 

Is  it,  then,  still  asked,  if  the  ancient  promises  have 
been  fulfilled  ?  Let  the  tears  of  the  sinner,  the  joy  of 
the  saint,  the  success  of  the  gospel  in  every  subsequent 
age — bear  witness.  Behold,  in  this  house  of  prayer, 
and  in  every  similar  house  of  prayer — an  adequate 
reply.  Do  you  look  around  and  ask  for  the  altar  of 
sacrifice  7  "  We  have  an  altar,"  says  the  apostle ; 
though  invisible  to  the  eye  of  sense,  the  eye  of  faith 
beholds  it ;  and  on  that  altar  there  is  a  victim  ;  will  you 
not  reverently  approach  and  look  upon  him  ?  Mark 
the  majesty  and  meekness,  the  dignity  and  compassion 
of  his  looks ;  it  is  Christ  crucified  ;  it  is  the  Lamb  of 
God,  "  taking  away  the  sin  of  the  world ;"  "  the  Lord 
hath  laid  upon  him  the  iniquity  of  us  all ;"  is  not  that 


A    SERMON.  177 

superior  to  the  Jewish  sacrifices  ?  He  is  spotless  ;  his 
"  blood  cleanseth  from  all  sin  ;"  "  by  his  one  offering 
he  hath  perfected  for  ever  them  that  are  sanctified  ;" 
will  you  not  draw  near,  and  nearer  still,  and  lay  your 
hand,  by  faith,  on  the  head  of  this  atoning  sacrifice  ? 
"  God  hath  set  him  forth,  as  a  propitiation  for  sin  through 
faith  in  his  blood."  Do  you  look  around  here  for  the 
ark  of  the  covenant  ?  The  ark  we  have  not,  but  the 
covenant  we  have.     What  means  this  sacred  book  ? 

"  All  that  the  ark  did  once  contain, 
Could  no  such  grace  afford." 

"  This  is  the  new  covenant,"  said  Christ,  "  the  new 
covenant  in  my  blood,"  the  covenant  of  life.  Every 
page  of  it  proclaims,  "  Hear,  and  your  soul  shall 
live."  Do  you  look  around  for  the  mysterious  veil^ 
and  for  the  high  priest  that  enters  within  it  ?  We 
know  of  no  v^il  to  conceal  the  mercy-seat ;  we  have 
access  into  the  holiest  of  all ;  the  only  veil  we  know 
of  is  that  which  separates  earth  from  heaven.  And  as 
to  our  high  priest,  he  has  passed  within  that  veil ;  "  he 
is  gone  into  heaven  itself,  now  to  appear  in  the  pres- 
ence of  God  for  us  ;"  our  "  Advocate  with  the  Father" 
is  "  Jesus  Christ  the  righteous ;"  he  "  €ver  liveth  to 
make  intercession  for  us." 

Every  thing  valuable  in  the  Jewish  economy  has 
found  accomplishment,  stability  and  perfection  ;  and 
the  design  of  it  all  is  to  make  his  house  a  house  of 
prayer,  a  place  of  friendly  meeting  between  God  and 
man.  This  was  the  great  object,  at  which  he  aimed 
when  he  dwelt  amongst  us.  Hence  the  attractions, 
with  which  he  invested  the  throne  of  grace,  adorning 
it  with  precious  gifts,  on  which  he  inscribed — "  Ask, 
and  ye  shall  receive" — describing  him,  that  sits  on  the 
throne,  as  our  Father,  willing  to  receive  us  as  his 
children — assuring  us  that  we  go  there  invited  and  ex- 
pected, as  his  friends — placing  in  our  hands  a  censer, 
filled  with  the  incense  of  his  own  merit,  to  make  our 
acceptance  secure.  And  still  his  heart  is  set  on  effect- 
ing an  interview  between  God  and  man.  Hence  the 
12 


178  THE    HOUSE    OF    PRAYER: 

specific  design,  for  which  he  has  instituted  the  ministry 
of  the  gospel,  is  to  beseech  men  to  be  reconciled  to 
God,  to  come  and  cast  themselves  down  at  his  feet ; 
and  hence  the  office  of  intercession,  which  he  fills  in 
heaven — never  quitting  his  station,  never  remitting  its 
duties  for  a  moment,  but  watching  and  encouraging 
the  sinner,  as  he  takes  the  first  step  to  the  mercy-seat, 
by  declaring,  "  I  will  pray  the  Father  for  you ;"  for 
well  he  knows,  that,  when  brought  in  penitence  to  the 
footstool  of  mercy,  our  forgiveness  is  certain,  and  the 
end  of  the  gospel  gained. 

But,  again,  admitting  that  God  is  thus  accessible  and 
gracious,  is  he  thus  accessible  and  gracious  to  all  ? 
Ask  if  the  light  of  day  is  free  for  all  that  see,  ask  if 
the  air  of  heaven  is  free  for  all  that  breathe,  but  ask 
not  if  the  throne  of  mercy  be  open  to  all  that  need 
salvation.  "  My  house,"  saith  he,  "  shall  be  called  a 
house  of  prayer  for  all  people."  And  remember,  he 
said  this  under  the  local  economy  of  the  Jews  ;  is  the 
gospel  church  less  open  and  free,  than  the  Jewish 
temple  ?  Its  gates  are  never  to  be  shut  night  nor  day  ; 
its  blessings  are  to  be  ofiered  "  without  money  and 
without  price  ;"  its  ministers  are  dispatched  into  all 
lands  with  the  command — "  Preach  the  gospel  to  every 
creature"  under  heaven.  '  Proclaim,  that  I  am  now 
on  my  throne,  giving  audience  to  the  world ;  say  to 
them.  All  things  are  mine,  come  and  share  them  ;  I 
possess  them  for  your  enjoyment  and  use,  come  and 
let  me  confer  them  upon  you ;  all  the  riches  and  re- 
sources of  heaven  are  mine,  and  you  may  be  made 
the  happy  recipients ;  come,  and  I  will  bless  you  with 
eternal  life  ;  "  whosoever  will,  let  him  come  ;"  I  cast 
out  none ;  "  my  house  shall  be  called  a  house  of 
prayer  for  all  people."  '  • 

And  is  there  ground  to  conclude  that  this  sublime 
result  shall  be  realized  ?  "  The  mouth  of  the  Lord 
hath  spoken  it."  "  I  have  sworn  myself ;  the  word 
hath  gone  out  of  my  mouth  in  righteousness,  and  shall 
not  return,  that  unto  me  every  knee  shall  bow,  and 
every  tongue    shall    swear."      By  what    particular 


A    SERMON.  179 

changes  in  the  present  kind  of  instrumentality,  at  what 
precise  period,  or  to  what  exact  point  of  perfection, 
the  result  may  be  realized,  we  cannot  say,  and  are  not 
anxious  to  know  ;  sufficient  is  it  for  us  to  know,  that 
the  time  shall  come^  when  the  world  shall  be  seen 
prostrate  before  God  in  prayer,  and  then  will  it  be 
clearly  perceived  that  this  has  been  brought  to  pass  as 
the  result  of  all  that  God  has  planned,  and  Christ  has 
suffered,  and  the  Spirit  has  effected.  The  very  men- 
tion of  his  name  then  will  be  sufficient  to  bring  the 
world  into  a  posture  of  adoration  ;  they  will  come  be- 
fore him,  hungering  for  his  blessings,  languishing  for 
his  Spirit,  coveting — craving  the  gifts  of  his  grace.  Is 
his  throne  of  mercy  open  to  all  ?  Is  his  house  "  a 
house  of  prayer  for  all  people  ?"  "  O  thou,  that  hear- 
est  prayer,  to  thee  shall  all  Jlesh  come.''''  They  shall 
not  be  satisfied  to  enjoy  thee  alone  ;  they  shall  go  out, 
and,  with  a  friendly  violence,  compel  others  to  come 
in  and  share  thy  favours  witji  them.  "  It  shall  come 
to  pass,  that  there  shall  come  people  and  the  inhabi- 
tants of  many  cities,  and  the  inhabitants  of  one  city 
shall  go  to  another,  saying.  Let  us  go  quickly  to  pray 
before  the  Lord,  and  to  seek  the  Lord  of  hosts,  I  will 
go  also ;  yea,  many  people  and  strong  nations  shall 
come,  to  seek  the  Lord  and  to  pray  before  him." 
Churches  shall  come  to  adore  him,  cities  to  consult 
him,  nations  to  surrender  to  him,  all  the  kindreds  of 
the  earth  to  fall  down  before  him.  They  shall  not  be 
content  to  praise  him  alone  ;  they  shall  feel  as  if  they 
wanted  help — the  help  of  the  world — to  raise  a  song 
adequate  to  his  praise,  and  a  prayer  equal  to  the  ardour 
of  their  desire.  "  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that, 
from  one  new  moon  to  another,  and  from  one  sabbath 
to  another,  shall  all  flesh  come  to  worship  before  me, 
saith  the  Lord  of  hosts."  Then  man  will  have  found 
his  only  proper  place — will  have  returned  to  the  only 
spot  in  the  universe,  which  becomes  him — at  the  feet 
of  God  ;  and  having  found  his  proper  place,  his  ulti- 
mate end,  there  will  be  rest,  confessing  himself  nothing 
that  God  may  be  all — going  out  of  himself,  and  losing 


180  THE    HOUSE    OF    PRAYER  : 

himself  in  God — finding  his  heaven  in  the  smile  of 
God.  Then  God  will  have  recovered  his  proper  glory  ; 
every  idol  will  be  abolished,  every  rival  pov^er  cast 
out ;  "  the  eyes  of  all"  will  "  wait  upon  him ;"  all 
flesh  will  be  hanging  upon  him,  staying  themselves 
upon  him ;  he  will  be  seen  by  the  universe  as  the  cen- 
tre of  a  lapsing  creation — the  support  and  the  stay  of  a 
sinking  world.  Then  the  design  of  the  whole  gospel 
constitution  will  be  completed — "  that  no  flesh  should 
glory  in  his  presence  ;"  everything  will  have  redounded 
to  the  glory  of  his  grace.  And  when  all  flesh  shall 
thus  be  seen  prostrate  before  God  in  prayer,  what  will 
it  be,  but  the  prelude  to  the  worship  of  heaven  ?  What 
will  remain,  but  that  the  whole  should  be  transferred 
to  the  employment  of  praise  above  ?  Infinite  love, 
ascending  the  throne  and  putting  on  the  crown,  shall 
sit  down  and  enjoy  an  eternal  sabbath  of  love,  while 
the  myriads  of  the  redeemed  and  glorified,  casting 
their  crowns  at  his  feet,  shall  ascribe  their  happiness 
to  him — and  the  jubilee  of  eternity  begin. 

Brethren,  to  this  point  everything  in  the  universe — 
everything  in  the  mediatorial  government  of  Christ — is 
tending,  with  the  directness  and  force  of  a  law.  To 
this  end,  therefore,  every  event  in  his  church,  every 
movement  of  his  people  should  be  intentionally  subor- 
dinate. Viewed  apart  from  this  ultimate  design,  the 
most  magnificent  projects  of  man  become  puerile  ; 
viewed  in  connection  with  it,  things  in  themselves  of 
very  slender  account  swell  into  infinite  importance. 
It  hallows  whatever  it  touches — ennobles  whatever  it 
employs.  Brethren,  such  is  the  fact  in  relation  to  this 
and  similar  Christian  edifices.  Regarded  merely  as  a 
structure,  raised  or  re-opened  for  the  honour  of  a  re- 
ligious denomination,  it  is  little  better,  little  more,  than 
a  few  particles  of  fabricated  dust ;  but  regarded  as 
pointing  to  the  great  end,  of  which  we  are  speaking, 
its  foundations  rest  on  the  deep-laid  purposes  of  God, 
its  top-stone  touches  the  throne  of  God,  its  dimensions 
on  all  sides  stretch  away  into  infinity,  it  is  built  into 
and  forms  a  part  of  the  vast  system  of  means,  by 


A    SERMON.  181 

which  God  is  working  and  which  fills  the  universe. 
Not  more  certainly  is  it  connected,  as  a  material  fab- 
ric, with  the  universal  laws  of  gravitation,  and  as  such 
exerting  a  physical  influence  through  all  space,  than  it 
stands  connected,  as  a  moral  means,  with  the  universal 
government  of  God.  There  is  a  sense,  in  which  even 
the  temple  at  Jerusalem  still  stands.  Though,  in  a  lit- 
eral respect,  not  one  stone  of  that  sacred  pile  remains 
upon  another — in  the  moral  influence,  which  it  exerts 
over  the  church  of  God,  it  still  lifts  up  its  sacred  head, 
its  fires  still  burn,  its  victims  still  bleed,  its  days  of 
atonement  still  return;  we  have  just  seen  them  this 
morning  ;  we  shall  see  them  in  eternity.  Brethren, 
there  is  a  sense,  in  which  all  the  great  events  and  sol- 
emn transactions,  related  in  the  Bible,  may  be  regard- 
ed as  having  taken  place  within  these  walls.  Here 
they  will  come,  (as  they  often  have  already,  in  the 
ministry  of  the  Gospel,)  and  occur  again.  Here 
Eden  will  bloom,  and  man  will  fall.  Here  God  will 
speak,  and  Sinai  will  burn.  Here  prophets  will  repeat 
their  sacred  strain,  and  priests  present  their  offerings. 
Here,  "  before  your  eyes,  Jesus  Christ"  will  "  evident- 
ly be  set  forth  crucified  among  you  ;"  and  here  again 
will  be  heard  the  "  rushing  mighty  wind"  and  the 
"  cloven  tongues"  of  the  day  of  Pentecost.  By  link- 
ing on  this  place  to  the  great  machinery  of  Provi- 
dence, all  the  influences  of  the  past  come  and  gather 
around  it,  and  settle  down  upon  it,  while,  for  the  fu- 
ture, all  heaven  is  awake  with  expectation ;  for  as  a 
house  of  God,  a  page  is  opened  for  it  in  the  book  of 
his  remembrance.  As  a  house  of  prayer,  it  takes  its 
stand  among  the  means,  by  which  God  is  reducing 
and  restoring  all  things  to  himself;  it  forms  a  part  of 
that  mighty  stream  of  tendency,  by  which  all  things 
and  all  men  are  to  be  borne  on  into  the  presence  of 
God,  there  to  fall  prostrate  before  him,  and  acknowl- 
edge him  all  in  all. 

The  question  will  be  entertained,  then,  by  every 
Christian  mind — How  may  this  sacred  place  he  made 
effectually^  more  effectually  than  ever^  to  subserve  this 


182  THE    HOUSE    OF    PRAYER! 

great  end  7  The  text  supplies  the  answer — by  mak- 
ing it  literally  "  a  house  of  prayer."  Every  power 
in  the  universe  is  regarded  by  God  as  more  or  less  op- 
posed to  him,  except  the  power  of  prayer  and  the 
means  by  which  prayer  has  sanctified.  Every  human 
habitation,  in  which  God  is  not  worshipped,  is  a  for- 
tress raised  in  hostility  to  him,  and  the  family  which 
inhabits  it  is  in  arms  against  him.  On  the  other  hand^ 
wherever  prayer  is  made,  and  in  the  exact  proportion 
in  which  it  is  made,  there  he  beholds  a  spot  reclaimed 
from  the  powers  of  darkness,  and  subjects  swearing 
allegiance  to  his  throne.  My  friends,  the  world  itself 
was  intended  to  be  "  a  house  of  prayer."  Every 
spot  in  it  was  meant  to  be  sacred  to  the  worship  of 
God  ;  all  its  air  should  have  been  incense,  and  all  its 
sounds  adoration  and  praise.  That  purpose  sin  at- 
tempted to  defeat.  But  oh !  a  higher  purpose  still 
only  waited  till  the  attempt  should  be  made.  From 
that  moment  the  plan  of  grace  has  been  unfolding, 
which  concentrates  within  itself  all  the  interest  of  the 
world's  history — all  that  is  eventful  in  the  universe  of 
God.  And  when  the  consummation  of  all  things  shall 
arrive,  what  will  this  world  be  thought  of,  think  you> 
but  as  it  has  furnished  a  stage  for  the  unfolding  of  that 
plan,  and  as  it  was  graciously  reclaimed,  in  conse- 
quence, from  being  a  house  of  sin,  again  converted 
into  a  house  of  prayer,  and  thus  restored  to  its  original 
design  ?  Let  man  record  its  history,  indeed,  and  he 
would  dwell  chiefly  on  topics  of  war  and  peace,  of 
pestilence  and  famine,  the  changes  of  thrones  and  the 
revolutions  of  empires ;  but,  as  written  by  the  finger 
of  God,  these  things  shall  be  noticed  only  as  they  sub- 
served or  opposed  his  final  purpose,  while  the  history 
of  the  world,  as  far  as  man's  instrumentality  tended  to 
promote  that  purpose,  shall  be  chiefly  a  history  of 
prayer.  Preaching  itself — benevolent  activity  itself — 
except  so  far  as  it  is  associated  with  devotion — shall 
be  passed  over  to  record  the  triumphs  of  prayer. 
Many  a  Christian,  who  once  filled  the  public  eye  with 
his  active  deeds  and  his  burning  zeal,  shall  be  compara- 


A    SERMON.  183 

dvely  unnoticed  ;  and  the  man  of  prayer — the  wrest- 
ler with  God,  shall  be  drawn  out  from  his  closet  ob- 
scurity, and  proclaimed  in  his  stead,  and  it  shall  appear, 
that  while  the  one  was  only  moving  earth,  the  other 
was  moving  heaven. 

Are  we  asked  for  a  proof  of  this  ?  Brethren,  a 
great  portion  of  the  world's  history  is  written — written 
by  the  finger  of  God.  The  Bible  is  God's  summary 
of  the  history  of  the  world,  down  to  the  close  of  the 
first  century  of  the  present  era.  What  are  the  deeds 
— what  is  the  kind  of  human  instrumentality — which 
he  has  deemed  most  worthy  of  record  ?  Oh  !  if  I  did 
not  believe  you  to  be  sufficiently  acquainted  with  that 
already,  I  would  say,  paint  them  on  the  walls  of  this 
sacred  place  ;  let  those  spaces,  now  left  in  unadorned 
simplicity,  be  occupied  with  the  principal  scenes  out  of 
God's  history  of  man's  instrumentality,  and  they  would 
soon  be  peopled  with  suppliants  in  all  the  postures  of 
devotion,  crowded  with  the  various  forms  and  attitudes 
of  prayer.  In  one  place,  Abraham  would  appear,  in- 
terceding for  Sodom — and  Omnipotence  waiting  till 
he  had  done,  the  tempest  of  descending  fire  suspended 
in  the  air,  suspended  and  ready  to  be  blown  away  by 
the  breath  of  prayer.  In  another,  Moses  would  ap- 
pear, holding  back  the  arm  of  God,  while  Omnipotence 
is  saying,  as  if  hampered  and  embarrassed,  let  me 
ALONE — "  Let  me  alone,  that  I  may  destroy  them." 
In  one  compartment  should  stand  the  temple,  with  the 
scene  of  dedication — a  nation  at  prayer — and  clouds 
of  massive  glory  filling  the  house  ;  and  in  anotlier,  the 
same  temple,  with  its  high  priest  occupied  in  the  office 
of  two-fold  intercession — prayer  with  the  voice — and 
prayer  by  sacrifice,  the  prayer  of  blood — thus  justify- 
ing the  description  given  of  it  in  the  text,  "  a  house  of 
prayer."  Did  Jesus  pray  ?  Oh !  in  a  sense  more 
than  figurative,  he  saved  the  world  by  prayer.  Pour- 
tray  a  mountain  top,  and  Jesus  on  it,  prostrate,  alone, 
wet  with  the  dews  of  night,  praying  to  God  "  with 
strong  crying  and  tears  ;"  and  next,  a  garden — Geth- 
semane — and  Jesus  there,  praying  in  an  agony,  which 


184  THE    HOUSE    OF    PKAYEK  ; 

baptizes  him  in  his  own  blood  ;  and  next  the  "  place 
called  Calvary,"  for  "  there  they  crucified  him,"  and 
Jesus  died,  offering  that  great  sacrificial  prayer,  which 
still  pleads,  still  fills  the  ear  of  God,  and  for  the  sake 
of  which  alone  all  other  prayers  are  heard.  Can  the 
"  cloven  tongues  of  fire"  be  pourtrayed  ?  forget  not  to 
represent  the  apostles,  on  whom  they  rest,  assembled 
in  prayer.  Elsewhere  let  an  angel  be  seen,  despatch- 
ed from  the  divine  presence  to  liberate  Peter  from 
prison  ;  but  forget  not  to  represent  the  disciples,  in  a 
neighbouring  house,  in  prayer.  But  oh  I  there  is  a 
vision  no  human  eye  but  one  hath  seen,  which  sums  up 
all — "  an  angel  standing  at  the  altar,  having  a  golden 
censer,  and  there  is  given  him  much  incense,  that  he 
may  offer  it  with" — mark — "  that  he  may  offer  it  witl> 
the  prayers  of  all  saints  upon  the  golden  altar,  which 
is  before  the  throne  ;  and  the  smoke  of  the  incense," 
blending  "  with  the  prayers  of  the  saints,  ascends  up 
before  God  out  of  the  angel's  hand."  Yes ;  here  is 
the  summing  up  of  man's  instrumentality.  Of  all  the 
various  ways,  in  which  he  employs  himself  here,  look 
into  that  censer,  and  mark  which  of  them  it  is  that 
reaches  heaven.  When  the  clamours  of  a  prayerless 
zeal  have  subsided,  and  the  undevout  deeds,  which 
have  dazzled  and  astonished  men,  have  spent  their 
force,  mark  what  is  left  in  the  censer  ;  only  that,  which 
partakes  of  the  nature  of  prayer.  This  is  all  that  lives 
to  reach  the  skies,  all  that  heaven  receives  from  earth, 
all  that  is  ever  permitted  to  ascend  before  God.  Oh  I 
brethren,  would  you  have  this  place  to  be  named  at 
last  in  God's  history  of  the  world  ?  Let  it  be  distin- 
guished now  as  a  house  of  prayer.  For  when  that 
history  shall  at  last  be  summed  up,  nothing  which  has 
not  been  in  that  censer,  will  be  named,  except  to  be 
condemned  ;  and  nothing  now  will  ever  find  a  place 
in  that  censer,  but  that  which  ascends  on  the  breath  of 
prayer. 

Here,  then,  you  are  to  come  in  the  spirit  of  prayer. 
The  great  idea  of  God,  as  the  object  of  prayer,  is  to 
mingle  with  all  your  thoughts  of  the  place,  hallo wing» 


A    SERMON.  185 

ennobling,  and  lifting  it  into  sacred  importance.  The 
very  presence  of  a  church  or  a  chapel  is  to  be  viewed 
as  a  perpetual  protest  against  all  prayerlessness  and 
irreligion.  By  it,  God  is  to  be  regarded  as  repeating 
his  original  announcement,  and  saying  to  all  the  pass- 
ers by,  '  I  AM ;  come,  and  fall  down,  and  worship 
me.'  And  by  it,  you  are  to  be  regarded  as  saying  to 
them,  "  Oh !  come,  let  us  worship,  and  fall  down,  and 
kneel  before  the  Lord  our  Maker."  Remembering 
that  you  come  to  obtain  an  audience  of  the  great  King, 
you  will  be  punctual  and  regular  in  your  attendance  ; 
you  will  see  to  it,  that  prayer — that  "  praise  waiteth  for 
God  in  Zion ;"  he  will  not  have  to  wait  for  it.  You 
will  allow  no  affairs  but  his  to  be  transacted  here  ;  it 
was  the  violation  of  this  understood  compact  with  God, 
which  led  our  Lord  to  say  of  the  ancient  temple,  "  It 
is  written,  my  house  shall  be  called  a  house  of  prayer, 
but  ye  have  made  it  a  den  of  thieves."  As  if  you 
had  just  heard  of  his  existence  for  the  first  time,  you 
will  come,  labouring  to  realize  to  your  minds  the  idea 
of  his  glorious  presence,  to  feel  that  he  has  entered 
and  is  here.  As  if  his  providence  had  only  just  now 
taken  the  affairs  of  men  under  its  superintendence,  or 
as  if  you  had  only  now  heard  of  it  for  the  first  time, 
you  will  come,  full  of  confidence  and  of  hope.  For 
what,  if  all  the  princes  and  philosophers,  and  philan- 
thropists on  earth  were  daily  to  meet  in  solemn  council 
on  nothing  but  your  affairs,  and  were  to  place  all  their 
resources  at  your  disposal — what  would  that  be,  com- 
pared with  the  glorious  truth  that  God  has  taken  your 
affairs  into  his  hands,  and  that  here  he  is  always  pres- 
ent, expressly  to  receive  you  ?  As  if  the  great  facts 
of  the  Gospel  history  had  only  just  occurred — as  if  the 
clouds  of  glory,  which  conveyed  the  ascending  Saviour 
to  heaven,  had  hardly  yet  disappeared — you  will  come, 
full  of  expectation  and  joy.  You  will  anticipate  fresh 
disclosures  of  his  grace,  royal  favours  from  his  hand ; 
and  the  more  you  expect,  the  more  will  you  honour 
him.  Adore  his  condescension,  then,  and  expect  his 
blessing.     Let  your  affections  go  forth  to  meet  him. 


186  THE    HOUSE    OF    PRAYER  : 

and  your  heart  be  enlarged  to  receive  him.  Regard 
it  as  "  none  other  than  the  house  of  God ;"  and  he 
will  see  to  it,  that  it  shall  prove  "  the  gate  of  heaven." 

Again,  here  every  thing  is  to  be  done  with  the  view 
of  leading  to  prayer.  As  we  have  been  proceeding 
with  our  remarks,  the  question  may  have  arisen  in 
some  minds.  What !  is  our  piety  to  take  no  other  form, 
than  that  of  prayer  ?  is  it  to  show  itself  in  no  other 
way,  than  by  prayer  ?  Such  a  question,  however, 
could  be  entertained  only  where  there  existed  a  misap- 
prehension of  the  nature  of  prayer,  and  of  the  way  in 
which  prayer,  like  an  all-pervading  element,  penetrates 
and  blends  with  all  the  various  methods,  in  which  piety 
works.  Confine  yourselves  to  mere  acts  of  devotion  ! 
no,  not  even  in  the  house  of  prayer  itself.  Only  see 
to  it,  that  whatever  you  do,  you  do  it  with  an  ultimate 
view  to  prayer. 

If  you  preach  the  Gospel,  for  instance,  you  are  to 
bear  in  mind,  that  that  is  the  most  successful  preach- 
ing, which  brings  men  prostrate  before  God  for  mercy, 
that  this  is  the  very  end  of  the  Gospel  ministry :  and, 
the  more  vividly  you  can  "  set  forth  Jesus  crucified 
among  them,"  the  more  effectually  this  end  will  be 
answered.  Yes,  let  this  place,  as  every  other  house 
of  prayer — let  this  place  have  a  Calvary  in  the  midst 
of  it,  and  on  that  Calvary  let  there  be  a  cross,  and  on 
that  cross  a  bleeding  Saviour,  and  on  that  sight — that 
spectacle  of  love,  let  the  eyes  of  the  people  be  kept 
perpetually  fixed.  As  preachers  of  the  Gospel,  our 
great  distinction  is  that  we  are  the  ministers  of  the 
cross  ;  we  have  to  wait  on  the  cross,  to  walk  around 
the  cross,  to  point  out  to  the  people  the  wonder's  of 
the  cross.  Have  we  any  pathos  ?  It  should  be  kept 
for  telling  them  of  the  cross.  Have  we  any  affection 
for  their  souls  ?  It  should  gush  forth,  when  we  are 
pointing  them  to  the  cross.  Have  we  any  tears  for 
them  ?  Where  shall  we  shed  them,  but  when  we  have 
led  our  people  to  the  cross — when  we  are  there  say- 
ing to  the  sinner,  "  Behold  him,"  look  upon  him,  "  he 
was  wounded  for  your  transgressions,"  "  bruised  for 


A    SERMON. 


18T 


your  iniquities,"  "  the  chastisement  of  your  peace  was 
upon  him,  that  with  his  stripes  you  might  be  healed  ;" 
draw  near  to  him ;  it  is  of  you,  that  he  is  thinking ; 
that  blood  is  to  wash  away  your  sins ;  that  life,  which 
he  is  pouring  out,  is  the  ransom  he  is  giving  for  your 
soul ;  draw  nearer  still — look  into  his  heart ;  read  the 
names,  which  are  written  there  ;  your  name  is  among 
them.  And  while  we  are  thus  entreating  the  sinner, 
does  he  relent  ?  does  he  "  look  upon  him  whom  he  has 
pierced,  and  mourn  ?"  does  he  "  smite  upon  his 
breast,  crying,  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner?" 
Then  the  end  of  the  ministry  is  answered.  "  Behold, 
he  prayeth." 

But  besides  the  preaching  of  the  gospel,  all  the 
other  ordinances  of  God's  house  are  to  be  administered 
likewise  ;  and  in  addition  to  these,  children  are  to  be 
collected  and  taught  on  the  Sabbath,  pecuniary  oifer- 
ings  are  to  be  cast  into  the  Christian  treasury,  the  Bible 
is  to  be  distributed,  visits  of  mercy  are  to  be  paid  in 
the  neighbourhood  around ;  it  is  to  be  God's  house  for 
doing  God's  work.  But  however  various  the  agencies 
and  extensive  the  operations,  which  are  organized  and 
kept  in  activity,  the  tendency  of  the  whole  must  be  to 
bring  men  to  God  in  prayer.  What  will  it  avail,  if  it 
stops  short  of  this — if  it  does  not  contribute  to  this  ? 
The  tendency  of  all  that  God  does,  is  to  lead  to  this ; 
and  if  you  would  act  in  harmony  with  his  design,  the 
direction  of  all  your  movements  for  others  must  be  to- 
wards the  presence  of  God ;  the  language  of  all  you 
do  for  them  must  be.  We  cannot  be  satisfied,  till  we  see 
you  reconciled  to  God,  prostrate  before  him  in  prayer. 

Here,  too,  the  salvation  of  the  world,  and  whatever 
may  be  instrumentally  necessary  to  that  salvation — 
should  be  made  the  subject  of  prayer.  "  My  house," 
saith  God,  "  shall  be  called  a  house  of  prayer  for  all 
people."  But  as  all  will  not — cannot — here  pray  for 
themselves,  your  obvious  duty  is  to  come  and  pray  for 
them.  Parents,  pray  for  your  children  ;  and  children, 
pray  for  your  parents.  Let  all  the  various  relations  of 
life  come  to  pray  for  each  other.     Pray  for  the  neigh- 


188 


THE    HOUSE    OF    PRAYER  ; 


bourhood  around :  there  is  a  sense  in  which  it  is  com- 
mitted to  your  care — in  which  God  is  saying  to  you, 
as  to  his  people  of  old,  "I  will  make  you,  and  the 
places  round  about  my  hill,  a  blessing."  "  There 
shall  be  showers  of  blessing."  Pray  to  be  made  the 
cloud,  from  which  the  showers  descend,  the  channel 
through  which  they  flow. 

Pray  for  the  prosperity  of  the  whole  Christian 
church.  The  great  Intercessor  above  prays  not  for  a 
party ;  the  names  of  all  the  tribes  are  graven  on  his 
breastplate  ;  and  does  he  not  love  that  prayer  the  most, 
which  most  nearly  resembles  his  own  ?  Pray,  then, 
for  the  prosperity  of  the  whole  Christian  church.  Do 
you  ask,  what  should  be  the  special  object  of  suppli- 
cation ?  Oh  !  it  wants  more  spirituality  and  distinct- 
ness from  the  world ;  it  wants  a  higher  appreciation 
of  its  office,  as  the  instrument  of  Christ  for  saving  the 
world ;  it  wants  more  of  the  spirit  of  liberality  to  sac- 
rifice for  Christ ;  of  union — of  oneness,  in  accordance 
with  the  prayer  of  Christ ;  of  zeal  which  shall  burn 
for  the  universal  triumph  of  Christ.  But  one  want 
there  is,  which  comprehends  the  whole — the  imparta- 
tion  of  the  Spirit  of  Christ.  Could  a  convocation  be 
held  of  all  the  churches  upon  earth,  the  object  of  their 
one  united  cry  should  be  for  that  promised  Spirit.  Let 
that  be  secured,  and  in  obtaining  that  we  obtain  the 
supply  of  every  other  want ;  we  find,  that  we  had  ac- 
quired the  same  mind,  which  was  also  in  Christ — a 
benevolence,  which  would  yearn  over  the  whole  hu- 
man race — a  brotherly  love,  which  would  combine 
with  the  whole  body  of  Christians,  for  the  conversion 
of  the  world — a  zeal,  which  would  be  ever  devising 
fresh  methods  of  usefulness,  practising  self-denial  and 
laying  itself  out  in  the  service  of  Christ — and  a  perse- 
verance which  would  never  rest,  till  the  whole  family 
of  man  should  be  seated  together  at  the  banquet  of 
salvation. 

And  in  coming  here  to  implore  the  effusion  of  the 
Spirit  on  the  church,  remember  that  you  are  in  effect 
interceding  for  the  world :  for  it  is  through  the  instru- 


A    SERMON.  189 

mentality  of  his  people,  that  he  purposes  to  save  the 
world.  Christians !  realise  in  thought  the  dignity  of 
your  ofRce.  You  go  to  God  as  the  earthly  represen- 
tatives of  mankind,  as  intercessors  for  the  world.  You 
pass  to  the  throne  of  grace,  through  multitudes — myri- 
ads of  human  beings.  Do  you  not  hear  them,  as  you 
go,  imploring  a  place  in  your  supplications  ?  Do  you 
not  see  all  Africa  assembled  in  your  path,  urging  you 
to  go  to  God  for  them,  to  describe  their  wants,  to  ask 
for  the  blessings  of  the  reign  of  Christ  for  them  ? 
And  before  you  have  done  pleading  for  Africa,  China 
comes  with  its  untold  myriads  entreating  you  to  inter- 
cede for  them.  And  while  yet  you  are  pleading  for 
China,  India  comes  with  its  tale  of  lamentation  and 
woe,  and  entreats  you  to  speak  for  it ;  and  can  you 
refrain  ?  And  when  you  grow  faint,  they  all  combine 
their  entreaties  that  you  cry  to  God  for  them  louder 
still ;  that  you  call  in  help — more  intercessors  and 
more  still,  till  all  the  church  be  prostrate  in  prayer. 
And  when  you  move  to  quit  the  throne  of  grace,  they 
all  in  effect  entreat  you  not  to  leave  them  unrepresent- 
ed before  God.  '  Oh  !  if  there  be  a  God,'  they  say, 
'  and  if  prayer  can  reach  him,  do  not  leave  us  thus,  or 
we  perish  :  our  only  hope  is  in  the  God  you  worship, 
the  Saviour  you  proclaim ;  pray  that  the  blessings  of 
his  grace  may  speedily  be  extended  to  us.'  Brethren, 
realise  your  office  thus.  Let  this  be  "  a  house  of 
prayer  for  all  people  ;"  and  you  will  be  hastening  the 
day,  when  the  world  shall  be  given  into  the  hands  of 
the  church,  and  the  whole  shall  cast  themselves  at  the 
feet  of  Christ. 

Here  then,  in  this  place,  (and  oh !  that  it  might  be 
so  from  this  day  !)  let  a  period  of  enlargedness  com- 
mence, in  your  views  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ,  and 
in  your  endeavours  to  realise  them.  Imagine  that  a 
new  page  is  opened  to-day  in  your  history ;  let  it 
prove  a  fairer  page,  than  any  in  the  past.  Review 
that  past ;  ascertain  in  what  respects  it  admits  of  im- 
provement— whether  in  the  regularity  of  your  attend- 
ance on  the  means  of  grace — in  the  attention,  serious- 


190  THE    HOUSE    OF    PRAYER: 

ness  and  self-application,  with  which  you  hear  the 
word  of  God — in  the  amount  of  your  pecuniary  contri- 
butions to  his  cause — in  your  personal  activity  in  his 
service — or  in  the  fervour  and  comprehensiveness  of 
your  prayers  :  and  in  whichever  it  may  be,  ask  God  to 
record  to-day,  in  the  book  of  his  remembrance,  a  holy 
resolution  of  instant  amendment.  Especially  see 
whether  you  ought  not  to  take  a  loftier  stand  than  ever, 
in  relation  to  the  great  interests  of  the  kingdom  of 
Christ.  Has  he  made  you  partakers  of  his  grace  ? 
Then  he  has  taken  you  (and  often  takes  you  still,)  to 
a  height,  which  commands  a  view  of  eternity,  and 
bids  you  take  a  comprehensive  view  of  existence — to 
regard  it  as  a  whole — to  live  for  eternity ;  and  having 
taught  you  this,  as  essential  to  your  own  personal  hap- 
piness, he  next  takes  you  to  another  mount  of  vision, 
which  commands  a  view  of  all  mankind,  and  he  bids 
you  to  pray  for  them  all — to  open  your  heart  and  em- 
brace them  all — to  live  for  the  universe.  Let  this 
house  be  to  you  that  mount  of  vision.  The  present  is 
a  day  of  more  extended  views,  than  the  past — a  day 
of  greater  designs  and  of  more  generous  endeavours ; 
let  this  be  a  house  for  the  day.  My  young  friends — 
you  whose  eye  is  kindling  at  these  designs,  and  whose 
hearts  beat  high  at  those  endeavours — be  you,  as  men 
of  God,  men  of  and  for  the  day.  Louder  voices  urge 
you  on,  than  your  predecessors  have  ever  heard ;  and 
more  splendid  achievements  await  your  advance. 
Take  enlarged  and  comprehensive  views  of  duty ;  de- 
vise liberal  things ;  design  for  the  universe  and  for 
eternity.  The  Lord  of  the  church  himself  is  your 
leader ;  angels  witness  the  scene  ;  and  the  world  is 
waiting  to  be  blessed  by  your  instrumentality. 

But  when  shall  you  begin  ?  Let  the  re-opening  of 
this  place,  signalized  as  it  is  in  heaven,  be  signalized 
here  by  your  beginning  now.  The  opening  of  the 
temple  was  distinguished  by  the  prodigious  number  of 
the  sacrifices  offered,  and  by  the  solemnity,  spirituality 
and  comprehensiveness  of  the  dedication  prayer ;  shall 


A  SERMON.  191 

not  the  re-opening  of  this  place  be  similarly  distin- 
guished ?  Some  of  you,  I  know,  have  already,  last 
year,  contributed — contributed  of  your  property  liber- 
ally ;  "  well  done,  good  and  faithful  servants ;"  but 
oh  !  let  us  hear,  as  we  do  of  the  churches  in  Macedo- 
nia, not  only  of  your  liberE^lity,  but  of  the  continuance, 
the  habit,  "  the  riches"  of  your  liberality.  Give,  as 
God  gives.  Give  under  the  expanding  and  exhilarat- 
ing recollection,  that  you  are  giving  in  a  house,  where 
you  come  to  ask  God  to  give  you  heaven  and  eternal 
life — that  you  are  giving  towards  ^"  a  house  of  prayer 
for  all  people,"  for  all.  people  for  whom  God  hath 
given  his  Son,  his  only-begotten  Son.  Give  under 
these  impressions ;  and  you  will  so  give,  that  in  eter- 
nity you  will  bless  God  for  disposing  you  to  act  so 
much  like  himself. 

Prayers,  too,  have  been  offered — solemn  prayers — 
comprehensive  prayers — prayers,  which  the  angel  hav- 
ing the  censer  hath  presented,  and  which  he,  who  sits 
on  the  throne,  hath  heard.  But  has  each  one  present 
joined  ?  Let  inquiry  be  made — have  all  prayed .? 
What !  is  there  one  present,  whose  heart  has  not  unit- 
ed in  the  general  supplication — one,  who  has  never 
yet  begun  to  pray — who,  in  the  very  house  of  prayer, 
while  every  one  around  him  was  engaged  in  prayer, 
has  yet  kept  aloof  from  the  throne  of  mercy  ?  Is  he 
not  pointed  out,  at  this  moment,  by  invisible  beings  ? 
Are  they  not  gazing  at  him  with  pity  and  with  won- 
der ?  Ought  not  all  present  to  gather  about  him,  and 
to  pray  for  him  ?  My  friend,  do  you  know  what  you 
do  ?  Shall  we  pause,  while  you  do  pray  ?  Suppose 
we  were  now  to  say  to  this  assembly,  in  the  language 
of  the  prophet,  "  Come  now,  and  let  us  join  ourselves 
to  the  Lord,  in  a  perpetual  covenant,"  and  let  all,  who 
are  ready  to  comply,  give  a  sign  ;  would  you  alone 
give  no  sign  ?  If  all  the  rest  were  to  join,  would  you 
be  the  only  one  to  remain  out  of  the  holy  confedera- 
tion ?  Shall  we  pause,  then,  while  you  now  pray  ? 
Shall  we  wait,  while  you  now  offer  your  first  entreaty 


192     THE  HOUSE  OF  PRAYER:   A  SERMON. 

for  mercy  ?  Yes,  now ;  it  will  gloriously  signalize  the 
morning  service.  Now  ;  the  news  would  be  convey- 
ed to  heaven ;  it  would  be  hastening  on  the  day,  when 
all  flesh  shall  be  seen  prostrate  before  God  in  prayer ; 
it  would  be  preparing  additional  lustre  for  that  day, 
when  all  the  crowns  in  the  universe  shall  be  cast  at  the 
Saviour's  feet — for  then  your  crown  would  be  amongst 
them. 


CHRISTIAN  EXCELLENCE; 
A  SERMON 


DELIVERED     AT      HOLYWELL-MOUNT      CHAPEL,     CHAPEL 
STREET,  CURTAIN  ROAD,  LONDON,  APRIL  28,  1839. 

Finally,  brethren,  7vhat soever  things  are  true,  rvhat soever  things  are 
honest  (or  venerable),  whatsoever  things  are  just,  whatsoever 
things  are  'pure,  whatsoever  things  are  lovely,  whatsoever  things 
are  of  good  report  ;  if  there  he  any  virtue,  and  if  there  he  any 
praise,  think  on  these  things.     Philippians  iv.  8. 

On  reading  this  remarkable  language,  one  is  almost 
unconsciously  led  to  exclaim,  How  noble  and  ennob- 
ling a  system  is  the  Gospel  of  Christ !  how  triumph- 
antly does  it  sustain  a  comparison  with  every  other 
religion !  how  effectually  does  it  eclipse,  how  glori- 
ously transcend  them  all !  For  poor  humanity  has  had 
its  systems — systems  of  philosophy,  morality  and  reli- 
gion— systems  which  for  a  time  resounded  through  the 
world — systems  which  were  to  bring  heaven  down  to 
earth,  or  to  raise  earth  to  an  equality  with  heaven ;  it 
has  had  them  by  hundreds,  if  not  by  thousands. 

Of  all  these,  however,  the  system  of  Plato,  I  sup- 
pose, by  aiming  at  what  he  called  the  true,  the  beauti- 
ful and  the  good,  is  to  be  regarded  as  approaching 
nearest  to  the  surpassing  excellence  of  the  Gospel. 
To  that  system  the  apostle  is  supposed  by  some  to 
refer  in  the  text ;  for  it  is  professed  to  be  composed 
chiefly  of  whatever  things  were  true  and  valuable  in 
the  various  systems  which  had  preceded  it.  But  this 
character  he  claims  in  an  infinitely  higher  sense  for 
13 


194  CHRISTIAN    EXCELLENCE  : 

Christianity.  For  even  if  that  human  system  had 
ascertained  the  true,  the  beautiful  and  the  good,  how 
could  it  have  demonstrated  that  the  true  v^as  not  false, 
how  could  it  have  embodied  the  beautiful  and  made  it 
visible,  how  could  it  have  induced  mankind  to  aim  at 
the  good  or  to  practise  the  useful  ?  Where  were  its 
motives  ?  what  were  its  solemn  sanctions  ?  and  accord- 
ingly, where  were  its  churches  or  societies  of  men 
embodying  and  propagating  its  principles  ?  But  ask 
you  for  the  motives,  which  the  Gospel  supplies  ?  The 
apostle  never  enforces  its  duties  apart  from  its  motives. 
Before  uttering  the  practical  appeal  in  the  text,  he 
takes  us  in  the  second  chapter,  to  the  cross- — takes  us 
there  to  behold  an  event,  which  whoever  considers 
feels  that  it  contains  motives  for  all  duties  and  incen- 
tives equal  to  all  sacrifices — takes  us  to  behold  Him, 
who  "  was  in  the  form  of  God,"  "  making  himself  of 
no  reputation,  taking  upon  him  the  form  of  a  servant," 
still  humbling  himself,  still  passing  from  one  depth  of 
ignominy  to  a  lower  still,  till  a  cross  receives  him,  and 
death  arrests  his  further  descent.  Ask  you  then  for 
the  practical  results  of  the  Gospel — for  its  churches 
and  active  societies  ?  Oh !  what  miracles  of  moral 
transformation  has  it  not  accomplished  !  Was  not  the 
apostle — was  not  Philippi  itself — an  instance  ?  There 
its  first  triumph  was  to  change  the  very  jail  into  a 
church — the  receptacle  of  a  city's  depravity  into  a 
sanctuary  of  God ;  and  there  already  it  had  begun  to 
leaven  and  to  assimilate  unto  its  own  glorious  nature 
the  mass  of  depraved  humanity  around.  Nor  was  it 
yet  satisfied.  He  calls  them  in  the  text  to  higher  at- 
tainments and  greater  usefulness  yet.  Perfect  itself, 
it  labours  to  produce,  and  is  impatient  to  behold,  per- 
fection in  all  who  embrace  it. 

Christian  friends,  the  application  of  this  subject  to 
yourselves  is  obvious  and  inevitable.  If  the  character 
of  Christianity  be  so  lovely,  your  character  as  its  pro- 
fessors must  be  proportionally  excellent.  If  it  actu- 
ally produced  in  the  Philippians  an  amount  of  Chris- 
tian excellence,  which  called  forth  apostolical  exulta- 


A    SERMON.  195 

tion— and  if  it  still  remains  what  it  ever  was — it  comes 
this  morning  into  the  midst  of  this  church,  and  makes 
inquisition  for  the  same  excellence.  It  calls  over  ,(if 
I  may  say  so)  the  muster-roll  of  all  the  Christian 
graces,  nor  allows  even  one  to  be  absent.  Taking 
you  to  a  mount,  of  vision,  which  commands  a  view  of 
all  the  moral  greatness  and  goodness  the  world,  the 
universe,  has  ever  known,  it  says  to  you — Aspire  to 
imitate  the  whole ;  whatever  you  behold  in  the  wide 
horizon  true  or  venerable,  just  or  pure,  lovely  or  of 
good  report,  take  them  all  to  your  heart  and  make 
them  your  own.  It  does  not  specify,  you  perceive, 
what  things  these  are  ;  it  seems  to  say — Aim  at  uni- 
versal excellence ;  cherish  the  ennobling  sentiment, 
that  there  is  nothing  too  good  for  Christian  humility  to 
hope,  nothing  too  great  for  Christian  devotedness  to 
attempt ;  propose  to  yourselves  the  loftiest  standard  of 
Christian  piety,  and  resolve  devotedly  to  reach  it ;  de- 
vise some  exalted  idea,  and  determine  in  the  strength 
of  God  to  attain  it ;  vow  to  live  for  the  cross  of  Christ ; 
do  this,  and  it  will  not  be  necessary  to  particularize 
and  prescribe.  For  remember,  he  who  dedicates  him- 
self to  a  great  object  is  a  law  to  himself ;  he  who  acts 
on  a  lofty  principle  lifts  his  whole  nature  at  once  ;  he 
who  aims  at  an  exalted  end  is  more  than  resolving  on 
good  acts  or  even  good  habits — he  is  necessitating  and 
producing  them ;  he  who  lives  for  a  noble  purpose  is 
keeping  all  the  laws  at  once,  without  feeling  that  he  is 
subjected  to  any. 

Christian  friends,  the  interesting  occasion  which  has 
called  you  together,  and  indeed  any  event  which  forms 
an  era  in  the  existence  of  a  church,  may  be  regarded 
as  opening  a  fresh  page  of  existence,  and  presenting  a 
loud  providential  call  to  enter  on  a  higher  stage  of 
Christian  excellence.  In  order  to  render  this  call 
intelligible  and  impressive,  allow  me  to  enforce  at  least 
the  spirit  of  the  text  by  showing — that  whatever  there 
is  attractive  in  Christian  morality,  you  are  to  exemplify 
it — whatever  there  is  exalted  and  mature  in  scriptural 
piety,  you  are  to  aim  to  attain  it — whatever  useful  in 


196  CHRISTIAN    EXCELLENCE  ! 

Christian  activity,  you  should  labour  to  accomplish  it — 
whatever  there  is  tender  in  solicitude  for  the  salvation 
ofc  others,  you  should  cherish  it — whatever  lofty  in 
Christian  enterprise,  you  are  to  sympathise  with  it — 
and  whatever  there  is  sublime  and  animating  in  Chris- 
tian motive,  you  are  to  live  under  its  ever-present  in- 
fluence. 

I.  Addressing  myself  especially  to  the  professed 
disciples  of  Christ,  permit  me  to  remark,  first,  that 
whatever  there  is  lovely  in  the  practice  of  Christian 
morality^  you  are  to  exemplify  it. 

Not  only  is  Christian  piety  compatible  with  the  dis- 
charge of  social  duties ;  it  will  not  absolve  us  from 
them.  It  will  not  allow  us  to  be  idle  spectators  on  the 
great  theatre  of  life.  It  enters  the  domestic  circle, 
and  addresses  an  appropriate  word  to  the  husband  and 
the  wife,  to  the  parent  and  the  child.  It  takes  the 
servant  by  the  hand  and  daily  leads  him  to  his  appoint- 
ed task,  and  thus  invests  his  station  with  a  dignity,  be- 
side which  the  most  splendid  indolence  is  eclipsed  and 
disgraced.  It  accompanies  the  tradesman  to  the  place 
of  business — takes  its  seat  by  the  judge — and  estab- 
lishes the  very  throne  in  righteousness.  And  thus, 
while  it  seems  to  be  intent  only  on  the  happiness  of 
eternity,  it  overlooks  nothing  connected  with  the  well- 
being  of  time.  It  even  seeks  to  prepare  us  for  the  du- 
ties and  immunities  of  that  higher  state,  partly  by  ex- 
ercising us  first  in  the  duties  of  our  earthly  condition. 

And  the  reason  of  all  this  is  obvious — that  the  object 
of  the  Gospel  is  not  to  repeal  our  original  and  natural 
relations,  but  to  remedy  and  restore  our  moral  consti- 
tution, and  to  do  this  through  the  medium  of  those 
relations.  It  is  the  tendency  of  sin  to  destroy  them  ; 
the  object  of  the  Gospel  is  to  employ  them — and  to 
restore  and  sanctify,  that  it  may  employ  them.  Hence 
in  not  only  republishes  the  duties  of  the  second  table, 
but  adds  tenderness  and  power  to  their  sanction. 
However  -exhausted  its  treasury  may  be,  it  will  not 
allow  the  undutiful  son  to  enrich  it  by  saying  "  Cor- 
ban,"  and  casting  into  it  that  which  the  wants  of  his 


A    SERMON.  197 

parents  require.  However  naked  its  altar,  it  scorns  to 
accept  "  robbery  for  burnt-offering."  However  de- 
serted its  shrine,  it  will  not  allow  the  angry  suppliant 
to  approach  it,  till  he  has  gone  and  become  "  recon- 
ciled to  his  brother."  And  however  long  any  of  its 
offices  in  the  house  of  God  may  have  stood  vacant,  the 
only  condition  on  which  it  will  allow  them  to  be  filled 
is  that  the  occupants  "  first  rule  well  their  own  house, 
and  have  a  good  report  of  them  that  are  without." 

And  the  advantage  of  all  this  is  as  obvious,  as  the 
reason  in  which  it  originates ;  at  all  events,  the  evil 
resulting  from  the  want  of  it  is  obvious  enough.  Could 
the  Gospel  overlook  these  proprieties,  without  arming 
against  itself  all  that  is  most  deep  and  central  in  human 
nature  ?  Can  a  church  neglect  them,  without  soon 
becoming  a  proverb  and  a  reproach  ?  Is  not  the  want 
of  honesty,  integrity,  natural  affection — of  any  of  the 
domestic  or  social  virtues — in  two  or  three  of  its  mem- 
bers only,  sufficient  to  blast  its  reputation  and  to  impair 
its  usefulness  for  years,  if  not  for  ever  ?  On  the  other 
hand,  can  the  members  of  a  church  honour  these  rela- 
tions and  cultivate  these  virtues,  without  augmenting 
their  influence  and  their  means  of  usefulness  ?  Oh  ! 
my  friends,  if  you  would  "  adorn  the  doctrine  of  God 
your  Saviour  in  all  things,"  if  you  would  win  for  it  the  se- 
cret admiration  of  the  unconverted,  and  acquire  for  it  an 
influence  over  their  hearts,  exemplify  the  attractions  of 
Christian  morality.  Think  what  prodigious  effect  it 
would  give  to  the  Gospel,  if  all  its  professors  did  this. 
If  they  took  "  whatsoever  things  are  true  and  just  and 
pure  and  lovely"  and  formed  them  into  a  bright  and 
beauteous  diadem,  what  a  halo  of  glory  would  it  shed 
over  the  whole  of  their  earthly  course  !  what  a  kind 
of  emblazonment  would  be  thrown  over  the  very  name 
of  Christanity !  how  impossible  it  would  be  to  pro- 
nounce that  name,  without  calling  up  in  the  heart  feel- 
ings of  homage  and  of  love  ! 

And  is  not  this  what  the  Gospel  actually  requires  ? 
Can  it  consistently  be  satisfied  with  less  ?  Does  it  not 
seek  to  enlist  into  its  service  all  the  relations  which 


198  CHRISTIAN  excellence: 

bind  us  together,  and  all  the  natural  means  by  which 
we  influence  each  other  ?  It  cannot  do  without  them ; 
consistently  with  the  divine  appointment,  it  cannot  do 
without  them.  They  are  the  only  instruments,  with 
which  it  has  to  work.  It  seeks  to  win  the  infant's  heart, 
by  looking  up  through  the  eyes,  and  caressing  it  in  the 
tones  of  maternal  affection.  The  father's  love,  the  sis- 
ter's entreaty,  the  brother's  warning,  the  persuasion  of 
friendship,  the  active  attentions  of  neighbourly  kindness, 
the  tradesman's  integrity  and  weight  of  character,  the 
disinterested  beneficence  of  public  life — it  wants  them 
all,  has  work  for  them  all.  And  even  if  it  have  them, 
the  kindest  tones  cannot  equal  the  tenderness  of  its 
entreaties,  the  hottest  tears  cannot  equal  its  anguish 
over  human  misery,  the  most  throbbing  heart  cannot 
beat  quick  enough  to  satisfy  its  eager  longing  for  human 
salvation.  All  the  influence  which  the  church  can 
wield  in  its  behalf  cannot  do  justice  to  its  free  and  full 
and  gushing  benevolence,  cannot  furnish  channels 
wide  and  deep  enough  to  pour  forth  the  ocean  of  its 
grace. 

II.  But  Christian  morality  supposes  piety  ;  the  holier 
a  church  is,  the  more  is  it  likely  to  excel  in  the  practice 
of  the  virtues,  for  the  more  will  it  live  under  the  influ- 
ence of  the  motives  which  produce  them.  Then, 
secondly — whatsoever  things  are  exalted  and  mature 
in  Christian  piety  aim  to  attain. 

If  the  holiness  of  the  individual  Christian  be  pro- 
gressive, then  should  the  piety  of  a  church  be  progres- 
sive also  (for  what  is  the  piety  of  the  whole,  but  the 
collective  piety  of  all  its  parts  ? ) ;  and  if  the  individual 
believer  should  say,  "  Brethren,  I  count  not  myself 
to  have  apprehended,"  the  language  of  the  church 
should  also  be,  ^'  This  one  thing  we  do,  forgetting  those 
things  which  are  behind,  and  reaching  forth  unto  those 
things  which  are  before,  we  press  toward  the  mark  for 
the  prize  of  the  high  calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus." 
And  yet  how  few  the  churches,  whose  conduct  would 
justify  the  adoption  of  this  language  !  How  many  a 
church  is  seen  to  languish  on  from  year  to  year,  con- 


A   SERMON.  199 

tent  with  a  bare  existence  !  How  many  a  church, 
which  not  only  exists,  but  wears  the  general  aspect  of 
health,  is  yet  content  to  remain  at  a  stand  for  years 
together !  as  if  it  had  reached  the  standard  of  a  perfect 
church,  it  never  exhibits  a  single  sign  of  self-dissatis- 
faction, or  makes  an  additional  onward  move  in  the 
path  of  Christian  activity.  And  how  many  a  church, 
it  is  to  be  feared,  that  does  exhibit  some  of  these 
signs — signs  of  increase  in  wealth,  in  numbers,  and 
even  in  Christian  activity,  signs  like  those  which  led 
an  ancient  church  to  say,  "  I  am  rich  and  increased 
with  goods  and  have  need  of  nothing" — is  yet  want- 
ing, like  that  church,  in  a  proportional  increase  of 
scriptural  piety!  Indeed  where  is  the  church,  that 
aims  as  high  in  this  respect,  or  advances  as  rapidly  as 
it  ought  ?  Where  is  the  church,  which,  if  it  does  "  run 
well"  for  a  time,  does  not  soon  begin  to  indulge  in  that 
self-complacency,  which  is  the  sure  precursor  of  a 
fall  ?  Where  is  the  church,  which  thinks  of  making 
that  grandest  of  all  experiments — how  much  it  may 
enjoy  of  God,  and  how  much  (even  to  the  highest  pos- 
sible amount)  it  may  achieve  of  Christian  usefulness  ? 
And  consequently — where  is  the  church,  which,  if  He 
who  "  walks  in  the  midst"  of  the  churches  were  to 
pronounce  on  its  character,  might  not  expect  him  to 
say,  "  I  have  somewhat  against  thee  ?" 

Christian  brethren,  is  it  true  that  you  might  expect 
him  to  say  this  of  you  ?  and  will  you  not  anxiously 
examine  what  that  "  somewhat  against  you"  would 
prove  to  be  ?  and  will  you  not  pray  for  grace  to  dis- 
cover and  remedy  the  defect  ?  and  will  you  not  hence- 
forth aim  at  whatever  is  exalted  and  mature  in  Chris- 
tian piety  ?  "  What !  know  ye  not  that  ye  are  the 
temple  of  the  Holy  Ghost  ?"  and  what  is  a  "  temple" 
without  piety  ?  Know  ye  not,  that  your  only  glory  in 
the  eye  of  Christ,  and  your  only  distinction  from  the 
world  around,  consists  in  your  spirituality  of  charac- 
ter and  your  devotedness  to  his  service  ?  Know  ye 
not,  that  there  is  a  something,  the  want  of  which  alone 
can  account  for  the  comparative   inefficiency  of  our 


200  CHRISTIAN    EXCELLENCE  : 

churches  and  the  slow  progress  of  the  Gospel  ?  It  is 
the  want  of  that  holiness  of  character,  which  is  essen- 
tial to  give  it  weight  with  the  world  ?  Then  will  you 
not  cast  out  from  the  midst  of  you  every  thing  evil  as 
soon  as  it  shows  itself,  and  faithfully  administer  that 
Christian  discipline  appointed  on  purpose  to  promote 
holiness,  and  attach  supreme  importance  to  every  thing 
calculated  to  increase  your  spirituality  ?  Is  it  on  ac- 
count of  the  want  of  that  Christian  devotedness,  which 
counts  nothing  that  may  be  possessed  its  own  ?  Then 
will  you  not  feel,  as  those  who  are  "  bought  with  a 
price,"  that  all  you  have  and  are  is  the  property  of 
Christ?  Is  it  the  want  of  that  Christian  union,  for 
which  Christ  prayed  when  he  entreated  "  that  they  all 
may  be  one  ?"  And  will  you  not  join  in  that  lofty 
supplication  ?  Shall  he  offer  it  alone  ?  Will  you  not 
take  the  entire  church  into  the  ample  embrace  of  your 
Christian  affection  ? 

Remember,  however,  that  when  you  have  "  given 
all  diligence,"  and  have  "  added  to  your  faith  virtue, 
and  to  virtue  knowledge,  and  to  knowledge  temper- 
ance, patience,  godliness,  brotherly-kindness  and 
charity,"  even  then  you  will  not  have  reached  the 
limit  of  your  progress.  Never  can  you  reach  that,  till 
you  have  entirely  exhausted  the  power  of  prayer,  or 
till  the  Holy  Spirit  has  no  more  quickening  and  enab- 
ling influences  to  impart.     And  when  shall  that  he  ? 

As  long  then  as  the  throne  of  grace  continues  to  be 
accessible  and  you  continue  to  approach  it  in  earnest  and 
united  supplication,  and  as  long  as  the  Spirit  of  all 
grace  is  able  to  replenish  your  hearts  with  his  influ- 
ences, so  long  should  you  continue  to  advance  in 
whatsoever  is  exalted  and  mature  in  Christian  piety. 

III.  But  such  piety  is  diffusive  ;  it  cannot  exist 
without  making  itself  felt  by  all  around,  and  the  prom- 
ise of  God  is,  that  it  shall  be  felt  so  as  to  issue  in  his 
glory.  Then,  thirdly — whatever  is  useful  in  personal 
Christian  activity^  aim  to  accomplish  it. 

As  a  church,  remember,  the  very  relative  design  of 
your  formation  is  the  increase   of  your  usefulness. 


A    SERMON.  201 

Every  thing  in  nature  exists  for  a  purpose  ;  even  the 
atom  of  the  rock  has  its  appointed  place  and  its  defi- 
nite end.  Surely,  then,  man — and  of  all  men  the 
Christian — is  not  exempt  from  this  law  ;  he  has  not 
been  "  Created  anew  in  Christ  Jesus"  for  mere  self- 
enjoyment  or  show.  And  if  not  the  individual  Chris- 
tian, still  less  a  number  of  these  combined.  As  a 
church,  the  mere  circumstance  of  your  separation 
from  the  world  is  designed  of  itself  to  attract  attention. 
Your  number  is  to  invest  you  with  comparative  impor- 
tance ;  your  formation  and  existence  as  a  visible  soci- 
ety, complete  in  itself,  is  to  raise  you  into  the  rank  of 
a  distinct  power.  As  a  church,  you  are  entrusted 
with  means,  either  exclusively  adapted,  or  eminently 
calculated  to  affect  and  benefit  the  world  around.  You 
possess,  for  instance,  "  the  ministry  of  reconciliation  ;" 
and  of  what  use  is  that,  but  "  to  beseech  men  to  be  re- 
conciled unto  God  ?"  As  a  church,  you  have  a  special 
sphere  of  labour.  However  small  the  circle  of  Chris- 
tian influence  which  each  one  separately  filled  before, 
from  the  moment  you  constitute  a  church,  the  hand 
which  so  forms  you  draws  around  you  a  circle,  which 
includes  the  region  round  about.  As  a  church,  you 
are  now  charged  with  a  collective  responsibility.  All 
the  souls  within  that  circle,  are  in  a  sense  given  into 
your  hand.  All  its  sick  are  to  be  visited,  all  its  igno- 
rant instructed,  all  its  children  "  trained  up  in  the  way 
they  should  go,"  its  widows  and  fatherless  and  desti- 
tute visited  in  the  time  of  their  affliction ;  the  whole 
of  its  area  is  to  be  filled  with  appropriate  "  works  of 
faith  and  labours  of  love."  Hence  all  your  means, 
the  mite  of  the  widow  and  the  wealth  of  the  affluent, 
the  leisure  of  one  and  the  influence  of  another,  the 
ardour  of  the  young,  the  wisdom  of  the  aged,  the  re- 
sources of  the  whole,  are  to  be  combined,  surrendered 
and  actively  employed.  Here  the  motto  of  each  is  to 
be — "  None  of  us  liveth  to  himself."  Each  one  is  to 
be  assigned  a  post  of  labour.  The  influence  of 
each,  by  union  with  all,  is  made  to  be  felt ;  and  as 
often  as  others  are  added  to  you,  you  are  to  regard  the 


202  CHRISTIAN    EX-CELLENCE  : 

circle  as  proportionally  enlarged,  and  are  again  to  fill 
it  to  the  circumference  with  the  influence  of  the  cross. 

But  all  this,  I  say,  supposes  that  every  individual 
member  is  prepared  to  take  his  post  as  an  agent  for 
Christ.  It  does  not  allow  the  indolent  to  fold  his  arms, 
and  devolve  his  duty  on  another.  It  does  not  permit 
•  the  fashionable  professor  to  wait  till  Christian  labour 
becomes  genteel.  It  will  not  permit  the  wealthy  to 
buy  off  his  personal  service  by  the  bribe  of  large  do- 
nations ;  it  requires  both — his  activity  and  his  dona- 
tion too.  Whether  it  contains  a  man  for  every  post  or 
not,  it  is  certain  that  it  contains  a  post  for  every  man. 
And  hence  the  first  inquiry,  which  some  churches 
make  of  a  newly-admitted  member,  is — And  what 
shall  your  post  be  ? 

Christian  friends,  were  I  to  be  asked  to  what  it  was 
owing  chiefly  that  the  early  triumphs  of  the  Gospel 
were  arrested,  how  it  was  that  Christian  usefulness 
died  out  of  the  world  and  piety  out  of  the  church,  I 
should  say  that  it  was  to  be  ascribed  chiefly  to  that 
master-device  of  Satan,  by  which  the  Christian  pro- 
fessor was  led  to  suppose  that  he  could  do  almost  ev- 
ery thing  by  proxy — that  there  was  an  order  of  men, 
on  whom  for  a  certain  consideration  he  could  devolve 
his  duties  both  to  God  and  man.  By  these  means  it 
was,  that  the  requirements  of  God  came  to  be  lost 
sight  of,  and  the  claims  of  the  world  to  be  utterly 
neglected.  Now  this,  I  need  not  remind  you,  is  sub- 
stantial Popery  ;  the  very  essence  of  that  system  con- 
sists in  undertaking  to  exempt  its  votaries  from  their 
personal  responsibility,  in  finding  a  price  for  every  du- 
ty and  a  discharge  from  every  claim  of  individual  ac- 
countableness.  Brethren,  we  pride  ourselves  in  our 
Protestantism ;  but  from  how  much  of  that  enormous 
system  have  we  been  rescued  !  For  just  as  much  as 
still  cleaves  to  us,  just  so  much  are  we  eflTectually  dis- 
abled from  "  doing  the  first  works"  and  emulating  the 
first  days  of  the  Christian  church.  Now  judging  from 
the  past,  we  should  say  that  the  Reformation  rescued 
us  from  only  a  part  of  Popery — from  that  part  which 


A    SERMON.  203 

blinded  men  to  a  sense  of  their  personal  concern  in 
the  affairs  of  their  own  salvation.  But  while  the  Prot- 
estant wonders  at  the  infatuation  of  the  Papist,  in  im- 
agining that  any  thing  can  exempt  from  the  necessity 
of  personal  diligence  in  seeking  his  own  salvation, 
are  not  we  objects  of  equal  wonder  in  acting  so  gen- 
erally as  if  we  thought  any  thing  could  exempt  us 
from  the  duty  of  personal  activity  in  seeking  the  sal- 
vation of  others  ?  If  the  one  is  Popish,  equally  so  in 
spirit  is  the  other  also.  And  oh  !  glorious  as  the  Re- 
formation was  for  the  church,  in  rescuing  its  members 
from  the  grasp  of  a  spiritual  despotism  and  making 
each  one  feel  the  necessity  of  personal  faith  and  per- 
sonal holiness,  as  glorious  will  that  reformation  be  for 
the  world,  which  shall  complete  the  work  of  deliver- 
ance by  rescuing  them  also  from  the  grasp  of  selfish- 
ness, and  making  each  one  feel  his  accountableness  to 
God  for  personal  activity  in  the  work  of  human  salva- 
tion. Never  till  the  Christian  feels  himself  as  much 
ordained  to  diffuse  the  Gospel,  as  the  minister  is  or- 
dained to  preach  it — never  till  a  church  regards  itself 
as  a  society  organised  expressly  for  that  diffusion — will 
it  be  aware  of  its  vast  capabilities  in  the  hand  of  God 
for  blessing  the  world.  What  but  this  feeling  in  the 
hearts  of  a  few  has  originated  all  the  Christian  instru- 
mentality, which  is  at  this  moment  at  work  7  And  if 
sense  of  responsibility  for  personal  activity  in  only  a 
few  instances  has  led  to  so  much,  what  might  we  not 
hope  under  God  from  the  individual  and  united  activity 
of  the  universal  church  ? 

Whatsoever   things   are   useful,   then,   in  personal 
Christian  activity,  aim  to  accomplish. 

IV.  But  all  this  supposes  a  deep  solicitude  for  hu- 
man salvation  ;  he  who  sympathises  with  Christ  in  ac- 
tively seeking  the  salvation  of  men,  must  have  sympa- 
thised with  him  first  in  his  compassion  for  human 
misery.  Then,  fourthly — whatever  is  tender  in  ChriS'  . 
tian  solicitude  for  the  salvation  of  others,  cherish  it. 

The  cross  is  the  utterance  of  divine  compassion ; 
and  the  church  collected  around  it  is  the  proof  of  its 


204  CHRISTIAN    EXCELLENCE  I 

power.  The  compassion,  which  bled  on  the  cross,  is 
supposed  to  be  in  the  hearts  of  all  its  members.  They 
know  the  wretchedness  of  sin,  into  which  the  sinner 
sunk ;  they  look  forward  in  imagination  to  the  end  of 
his  course — hear  already  his  doom  pronounced — see 
the  pit  open  to  receive  him — and  hear  by  anticipation 
his  hopeless  cries  for  deliverance.  And  the  deep 
anxiety  they  should  feel  to  snatch  the  fire-brands  from 
the  flame,  and  to  quench  them  in  the  blood  of  Christ, 
should  impart  a  depth  of  tenderness  to  their  tone,  an 
earnestness  of  solicitude  to  their  manner,  and  a  com- 
bination and  energy  to  their  efforts,  which,  by  the 
blessing  of  God,  nothing  should  be  able  to  resist. 

But  who  feels  this  ?  Who  sympathises  with  Christ 
in  his  travail  for  souls  ?  How  little  do  we  feel  with 
God  on  that  particular  point,  on  which  (if  on  no  other) 
the  strongest  bond  of  union  might  be  supposed  to  exist 
—-compassion  for  depraved,  guilty  and  perishing  men  ! 
Who  is  there,  that  makes  the  burden  of  a  dying  world 
his  own  ? — that  goes  about  as  Paul  did,  with  "  great 
heaviness  and  continual  sorrow  of  heart,"  oppressed 
and  borne  down  by  the  weight  of  its  woes  ?  Jesus 
wept  over  the  guilt  and  obduracy  of  Jerusalem- — a  sin- 
gle city ;  who  is  there  prepared  to  mingle  their  tears 
with  his  over  this  city — over  the  guilt  and  impending 
destruction  of  a  thousand  cities— of  a  world  ?  Abra- 
ham and  Moses,  David  and  Jeremiah  and  Paul  evinced 
the  tenderness  and  depth  of  their  compassion  for  men 
by  tears,  entreaties,  and  restless  anguish  of  soul ;  who 
is  there  now,  that  can  say,  "  Rivers  of  water  run 
down  mine  eyes  because  they  keep  not  thy  law  ?" 
who  now  is  heard  exclaiming,  "  Oh  !  that  my  head 
were  waters  and  mine  eyes  a  fountain  of  tears,  that  I 
might  weep  day  and  night,  for  the  slain  of  the  daugh- 
ter of  my  people  ?"  Who  now  asseverates  as  with 
an  oath,  "  I  could  wish  myself  accursed  from  Christ 
for  my  brethren  and  kinsmen's  sake  ?" 

Christians  !  are  there  not  souls  perishing  in  the  very 
midst  of  you  ?  Do  they  not  meet  with  you  every  Sab- 
bath— sit  by  your  side  every  service  }     Have  they  not 


A    SERMON.  205 

done  so  for  years  ?  Are  they  not  yet  unsaved  ? 
Have  not  the  very  sermons,  which  have  proved  to  you 
a  "  savor  of  life  unto  life,"  proved  to  them  a  "  sa- 
vor of  death  unto  death?"  Has  not  mercy  wept 
over  them  in  vain  ?  Has  not  Jesus  Christ  been  "  evi- 
dently set  forth  crucified  before  them"  in  vain  ?  Can 
you  conceive  any  thing  more  deserving  your  deep 
commiseration  ?  You  will  have  to  appear  as  witnesses 
against  them  ;  can  you  conceive  of  any  prospect  more 
appalling  ?  Oh !  look  at  them  in  imagination,  till 
your  eyes  fill  with  tears,  till  your  hearts  fill  with  pity 
and  yearn  over  them.  Pray  for  them.  Your  Lord 
has  died  for  them  ;  will  you  not  pray  for  them  ?  It  is 
your  interest  to  do  so.  At  present  they  constitute 
your  weakness,  your  obstacles  to  enlarged  prosperity  ; 
they  impair  the  effect  of  every  sermon  delivered,  of 
every  prayer  offered,  whereas  if  converted  they  might 
constitute  your  strength.  Pray  for  them.  It  is 
your  office  ;  you  are  to  be  intercessors  for  them,  as 
Christ  is  for  you.  Pray  for  them.  It  shall  be  your 
triumph  ;  for  your  prayers  offered  in  faith  shall  "  avail 
much."  Hold  meetings  of  prayer  for  them ;  in  that 
act  alone,  angels  would  see  occasion  to  rejoice  in  the 
presence  of  God,  and  in  its  glorious  results  Christ 
would  "  see  of  the  travail  of  his  soul  and  be  satisfied." 

V.  But  it  is  impossible  to  feel  and  act  thus  for 
some,  without  being  conscious  of  similar  solicitude  for 
others ;  Christian  compassion  knows  nothing  of  geo- 
graphical limits ;  the  cross  vibrates  to  the  sounds  of 
human  misery  in  every  part  of  the  earth,  and  the 
heart  of  the  Christian  is  to  thrill  in  sympathy  with  it. 
Then,  fifthly — whatever  is  lofty  in  Christian  enter ' 
prise^  aim  to  sympathise  with  and  promote  it. 

After  what  we  have  said  we  cannot  be  supposed  to 
mean  that  the  duties  of  the  family  are  to  be  neglected, 
or  the  duties  of  the  particular  church  to  which  we  be- 
long overlooked,  for  any  other  objects  however  mag- 
nificent. Nor  need  they.  Our  duty  is  in  this  respect 
coincident  with  our  most  enlarged  desires  ;  for  by  fill- 
ing the  sphere  immediately  around  us  first,  we  are 


206  CHRISTIAN  excellence: 

multiplying  our  agencies  for  wider  and  still  wider  in- 
fluence. And  not  only  so  ;  such  are  the  gracious  ar- 
rangements of  the  scheme  of  mercy,  that  by  earnest 
supplications  at  the  throne  of  grace  the  obscurest  be- 
liever can  touch  and  set  in  motion  an  almighty  agency 
^for  the  good  of  the  world ;  such  the  facilities  which 
exist  at  present  for  the  operations  of  Christian  benefi- 
cence, that  by  contributing  his  mite  the  poorest  Christian 
can  become  an  instrument  of  good  to  the  ends  of  the 
earth  and  to  nations  yet  unborn;  and  such  the  vast 
and  varied  machinery  which  that  beneficence  has  put 
into  action,  that  the  humblest  church  is  summoned  to 
its  part,  and  invited  to  share  in  the  honour  of  restoring 
a  ruined  world. 

And  will  you  not  aspire  to  partake  of  it  ?  Can  you 
ascend  that  mount  of  vision,  which  takes  in  the  field 
of  the  world,  without  marking  how  vast  the  multi- 
tudes, how  urgent  and  awful  their  condition,  and  how 
momentous  the  results  depending  on  our  hastening  to 
save  them  ?  Can  you  mark  how  uniformly  God  en- 
larges the  successes  of  his  people  in  proportion  as  they 
enlarge  the  sphere  of  their  activity,  without  feeling  a 
holy  determination  that  "  no  man  shall  take  your 
crown  ?"  Can  you  remember  the  magnitude  of  the 
work  to  be  accomplished,  and  the  claims  which  the  Sa- 
viour has  upon  you,  without  feeling  the  strong  neces- 
sity of  entire  consecration  to  the  service,  and  wishing 
that  you  could  multiply  your  means  a  thousand-fold  ? 
Oh !  whatever  there  is  ennobling  in  Christian  enter- 
prise, be  ambitious  to  mingle  in  and  practically  to  as- 
sist it. 

VI.  But  all  this  supposes  adequate  motives  ;  and 
accordingly,  if  the  text  does  not  contain,  it  at  least 
suggests  them.  "  If  there  be  any  virtue  and  if  there 
be  any  praise,  think  on  these  things."  In  other  words 
— whatever  there  is  suhlime  and  animaling  in  Chris- 
tian motive^  live  under  its  ever-present  influence. 

Are  we  not  apt  to  act  from  the  lowest  allowable, 
rather  than  from  the  highest  possible  motives  to  Chris- 
tian devotedness }  and  is  not  this  one  reason  why  our 


A  SERMON.  207 

instrumentality  is  so  feeble  and  inefficient  ? — whereas 
the  apostle  here  seems  to  invoke  all  that  is  inspiring 
and  noble  from  every  part  of  the  universe.  "  If  there 
be  any  virtue  and  if  there  be  any  praise,"  he  intimates 
that  the  church  has  heard  of  it,  has  had  it,  and  that  we 
are  to  live  as  in  its  presence — that  whatever  the  world 
has  known  of  great  and  good  has  belonged  to  the 
church — that  its  influence  goes  on  accumulating  from 
age  to  age,  and  is  devolved  on  each  successive  gen- 
eration in  the  church,  so  that  we  in  the  present  day  are 
living  under  the  collective  influences  of  all  the  past, 
and  moving  under  an  impulsive  power  greater  than 
that  of  any  preceding  age.  "  Ye  are  come,"  says  the 
apostle,  "  to  mount  Zion,  to  the  city  of  the  living  God, 
the  heavenly  Jerusalem,  and  to  an  innumerable  com- 
pany of  angels,  to  the  general  assembly  and  church 
of  the  first-born,  which  are  written  in  heaven." 

Your  union  with  a  Christian  church  brings  you  into 
connection  with  all  that  was  great,  and  under  the  in- 
fluence of  all  that  was  good,  in  the  Jewish  church. 
True,  the  temple  is  gone,  and  the  economy  abolished  ; 
but  all  its  proper  and  mighty  influence  is  existing  still. 
Nothing  that  belonged  to  it  existed  for  itself.  Every 
judgment  that  made  it  awful  looked  on  beyond  its  own 
time,  and  is  frowning  still.  "  All  these  things  hap- 
pened unto  them  for  ensamples  ;  and  they  are  written 
for  our  admonition,  upon  whom  the  ends  of  the  world 
are  come."  Each  of  its  prophets  spoke  less  for  his 
own  time  than  for  ours ;  so  that  for  us  in  eflect  he  is 
prophesying  still.  "  Not  unto  themselves,"  says  an 
apostle,  "  but  unto  us  they  did  minister  the  things 
which  are  now  reported  to  us"  by  the  Gospel.  Every 
event  which  distinguished  them  is  still  in  actual 
operation,  diffusing  the  elements  of  other  events  and 
propagating  its  influence  somewhere.  And  where 
shall  we  look  for  it,  but  within  the  limits  of  the  Chris- 
tian church  ?  The  Bible  is  the  true  conductor  of  all  the 
holy  influences  the  church  has  ever  known.  From  it 
the  Jewish  church  received  "  whatsoever  things  were 
true  and  lovely  and  of  good  report"  in  the  preceding 


208  CHRISTIAN    EXCELLENCE  : 

economy.  In  that  church,  it  may  be  truly  said,  Abel, 
"  though  dead,  was  ever  speaking  ;"  and  Enoch,  "  the 
seventh  from  Adam,"  was  ever  "  prophesying  of  the 
coming  of  the  Lord."  There  the  patriarchs  came  and 
lived  again  for  their  posterity  ;  there  the  rod  of  Aaron 
was  ever  blooming,  the  manna  ever  fresh,  the  rod  of 
Moses  ever  working  and  repeating  its  miracles  ;  there 
Sinai  reared  its  awful  head,  and  from  its  thundering 
top  its  law  was  ever  demanding  for  God  the  heart  of 
the  world,  and  demanding  for  every  man  the  love  of 
all  the  rest.  In  the  same  sense  the  Bible  has  now  dis- 
charged all  the  accumulated  moral  influence  of  the 
last  economy  into  the  present ;  the  Christian  church 
has  received  the  whole.  Here  in  effect  the  temple 
still  stands ;  though  in  a  literal  respect  not  one  stone 
of  that  sacred  pile  remains  upon  another,  in  the  hal- 
lowed influence  which  it  sheds  over  the  church  of  God 
it  still  lifts  up  its  awful  front ;  its  fires  still  burn,  its  vic- 
tims still  bleed,  its  "  day  of  atonement"  still  returns. 
We  behold  them  now  ;  we  shall  see  them  in  eternity. 
All  the  great  events  and  solemn  transactions  of  the 
Old  Testament  may  be  regarded  has  having  taken  place 
in  the  Christian  church — within  these  walls.  Here,  in 
the  ministry  of  the  Gospel,  they  do  come,  and  occur 
again.  Here  its  miracles  are  still  convincing,  and  its 
angelic  messengers  still  appearing.  Here  Moses  is 
still  teaching  self-renunciation,  by  wishing  himself 
"blotted  out  from  the  book"  of  life  for  the  good  of 
others — and  David  leading  the  intercessions  of  the 
church  for  the  salvation  of  the  ends  of  the  earth — and 
the  prophets  still  "  testifying  of  the  sufferings  of  Christ 
and  the  glory  that  should  follow."  And  what  is  more, 
here  they  are  all  present  at  once.  Truths  and  events, 
which  for  the  Jewish  church  were  scattered  thinly  over 
a  long  tract  of  time,  are  here  collected  to  a  point  and 
made  operative  at  once ;  ages,  with  the  men  who 
made  them  memorable — and  dispensations,  with  all  the 
miraculous  facts  and  sublime  disclosures  which  distin- 
guished them — pass  in  quick  and  close  succession  be- 
fore us,  and  we  feel  ourselves  standing  uilder  the  eye 


A    SERBION.  209 

and  influence  of  the  whole.  And  more  still ;  great  as 
was  the  influence  which  that  economy  was  calculated 
to  exercise  during  its  actual  existence,  that  influence 
has  gone  on  gathering  strength  with  each  successive 
age,  and  is  comparably  mightier  for  us,  than  .for 
those  who  lived  in  its  immediate  presence.  All  that 
was  evangelical  and  immortal  in  its  principles  was  far 
in  advance  of  the  time  then  present,  and  was  destined 
to  act  chiefly  on  the  future.  Who  does  not  feel,  for 
instance,  that  the  lofty  aspirations  of  the  psalmist  for 
the  universal  diflusion  of  the  truth,  and  the  splendid 
visions  of  prophecy  in  which  those  aspirations  were 
seen  realised,  are  only  as  yet  beginning  to  produce 
their  legitimate  effect,  and  that  with  every  year  that 
effect  under  God  is  likely  to  increase  ? 

But  together  with  all  this  influence  from  the  former 
economy,  there  comes  a  mightier  influence  peculiar  to 
the  present — a  power  so  irresistible,  that  wherever  it 
has  had  free  course  it  has  swept  away  the  thrones  of 
idolatry,  changed  the  aspect  of  society,  and  left  its 
sacred  impress  upon  every  object  it  has  touched.  Ours 
is  THE  CROSS — the  great  "  power  of  God" — not  only 
absorbing  and  concentrating  all  the  influences  of  the 
past,  but  charged  with  a  new  power  direct  from  God — 
containing  in  its  bosom  all  the  springs  of  benevolence 
the  world  will  ever  know,  an  energy  of  expansive 
goodness  capable  of  replenishing  the  universe  with 
light  and  with  love.  Here  God  is  seen  enriching  the 
world  with  a  gift,  which  leaves  us  nothing  to  ask  for 
more.  Here  Christ  is  seen  taking  the  world  to  his 
heart,  seizing  our  nature  as  it  trembles  over  the  bottom- 
less gulph,  assuming  it  into  union  with  his  own,  taking 
our  place  under  the  descending  stroke  of  justice  and 
suffering  in  our  stead.  Here  angels,  drawn  from  heav- 
en, bend  to  gaze,  and  labour  to  comprehend  the  mystery 
of  incarnate  love.  Here  the  infinite  Spirit  himself, 
drawn  down  from  the  heights  of  his  everlasting  dwell- 
ing place,  descends  as  "  a  rushing  mighty  wind,"  and 
the  cries  of  penitents  are  heard  around.  Apostles 
come,  to  lose  themselves  in  wonder,  and  exclaim, 
14 


210  CHRISTIAN     EXCELLENCE  : 

"  Herein  is  love  !" — and  to  surcharge  their  hearts  with 
a  benevolence,  which  impels  them  to  the  ends  of  the 
earth,  testifying  that  "  the  Father  hath  sent  the  Son  to 
be  the  Saviour  of  .the  world." 

And  what  do  we  behold  in  this  result,  but  the  ap- 
propriate answer  to  the  prayer  of  Christ — "  Sanctify 
them  through  thy  truth ;  thy  word  is  truth."  The 
sanctification  he  prayed  for  was  not  their  personal  ho- 
liness (though  that  was  indispensable,)  but  their  rela- 
tive or  official  consecration ;  "  As  thou  hast  sent  me 
into  the  world,"  he  adds,  "  even  so  have  I  also  sent 
them  into  the  world,  and  for  their  sakes  I  sanctify  my- 
self" or  devote  myself  "  that  they  also  might"  (in  the 
same  sense)  "  be  sanctified"  or  devoted  ''  through  the 
truth" — that  standing  under  the  action  of  my  cross, 
feeling  the  full  influence  of  that  mystery  of  compas- 
sion, beholding  how  I  thy  Son  "  the  brightness  of  thy 
glory"  there  devote  and  set  myself  apart  as  a  sacrifice 
for  the  manifestation  of  thine  infinite  love,  they  may 
feel  impelled  to  devote  themselves  with  a  similar  en- 
tireness  of  consecration  to  the  proclamation  of  that 
love  through  the  world.  Oh  !  if  the  influence  of  prom- 
ises, comparatively  vague  in  their  meaning  and  indefi- 
nitely distant  in  their  fulfilment,  could  produce  under 
God  the  martyr  piety  of  Abel,  the  dauntless  fidelity  of 
Enoch,  the  persevering  obedience  of  Noah,  the  mis- 
sionary pilgrimage  of  Abraham,  the  self-sacrificing 
zeal  of  Moses — if  the  comparatively  feeble  influences 
of  the  Jewish  dispensation  could  create  under  God 
those  splendid  constellations  of  excellence,  which  glow 
and  burn  in  the  eleventh  chapter  to  the  Hebrews — 
who  shall  set  limits  to  that  moral  greatness  and  that 
Christian  devotedness,  which  the  mightier  influences 
of  the  Gospel  shall  produce  ^  To  know  that  a  whole 
economy  has  existed  for  us  (that  is,  for  the  church  of 
which  we  are  members,)  that  for  us  its  heroes  lived 
and  its  martyrs  died — to  know  that  for  us  that  econo- 
my of  a  thousand  years  was  at  last  dismissed,  as  for 
us  it  had  at  first  been  called  into  being,  leaving  to  us 
all  its  rich  accumulations  of  inspired  wisdom,  God-like 


A    SERMON.  211 

example,  and  moral  wealth — this  alone  should  surely 
be  sufficient  to  teach  us  the  greatness  of  living  for  the 
future,  and  to  kindle  in  our  hearts  unquenchable  desire 
of  transmitting  the  great  inheritance  to  those  who  suc- 
ceed us,  not  merely  unimpaired,  but  augmented  by  the 
influence  of  our  own  devotedness.  But  to  know  that 
that  which  displaced  that  economy  was  the  personal 
advent,  the  actual  sacrifice,  the  visible  humiliation  of 
the  Son  of  God — that  the  eternal  Father  should  have 
''  so  loved  us,  as  to  give"  from  his  bosom  "  the  ex- 
press image  of  his  person" — should  surely  come  on 
us  with  an  effect,  which  should  leave  us  no  power  but 
that  of  obedience,  no  wish  but  that  of  multiplying  our 
means  of  serving  him  ten  thousand-fold.  Before  that 
gift  could  have  been  bestowed,  the  ocean  of  the  divine 
benevolence  must  have  been  stirred  in  all  its  unfath- 
omable depths ;  should  the  shallow  stream  of  our  grat- 
itude be  only  rippled  upon  the  surface  ?  Of  all  his 
infinite  resources  He  freely  gave  the  sum ;  of  the 
mite-like  penury  of  our  nature,  shall  we  return  him 
only  a  fraction?  To  know  that  He  "  who  was  rich" 
should  "  for  our  sakes  have  become  poor,"  that  the 
second  Person  in  the  mysterious  Godhead  should  have 
personally  advanced  to  our  rescue,  descending  from 
one  depth  of  humiliation  to  another,  till  he  had  reach- 
ed a  depth  which  made  it  impossible  for^divine  conde- 
scension itself  to  stoop  lower — this  is  knowledge, 
which,  as  it  has  moved  all  heaven,  should  surely  be 
sufficient  to  move  and  agitate  all  earth.  To  hear  that 
event  succeeded  by  the  signs  and  sounds  of  another 
advent,  the  advent  of  the  Holy  Spirit — to  find  that  thus 
each  of  the  three  Persons  in  the  awful  and  mysterious 
Godhead  is  infinitely  interested  in  our  recovery,  and  that 
so  intimately  is  the  compassion  of  the  triune  God  set  upon 
the  object,  that  no  truth  is  left  untaught,  no  miracle  of 
mercy  unperformed,  no  angel  or  agency  unemployed, 
no  part  of  the  universe  unmoved,  no  perfection  of  the 
divine  nature  unconcerned,  no  aspect  of  the  divine 
character  unexhibited,  which  is  in  the  least  essential 


212  CHRISTIAN    EXCELLENCE  : 

to  its  accomplishment — this  should  leave  no  portion  of 
the  church  at  rest,  no  means  within  its  fartliest  reach 
untaxed,  for  the  attainment  of  the  same  glorious  end. 
To  find  that  this  is  manifestly  the  divine  design,  that 
Christ  as  the  Head  of  the  church  on  earth  authorita- 
tively requires  that  each  individual  Christian  surrender 
himself  and  live  supremely  for  the  conversion  of  oth- 
ers, that  these  unite  into  particular  societies  for  the 
conversion  of  greater  numbers  still,  that  all  these  soci- 
eties in  every  land  combine  in  simplicity  of  purpose 
for  the  salvation  of  the  entire  race — to  find  that  as  the 
President  of  the  universe  he  commands  and  combines 
the  sympathies  and  instrumentality  of  the  church  in 
heaven  with  that  of  the  church  on  earth,  assigning  to 
angels  the  time  and  the  place  for  their  agency  in  prov- 
idence concurring  with  his  movements  both  in  provi- 
dence and  in  grace — and  to  find  that  in  his  mediatorial 
capacity,  he  even  adds  the  presence  and  the  power  of 
the  Holy  Spirit  himself — surely  this  should  leave  no 
Christian  unemployed,  no  church  unrelated,  no  agency 
we  could  invoke  on  earth  or  in  heaven  to  be  absent 
from  our  combined  endeavours  to  carry  it  into  effect. 
And  to  find  that  this  design  is  as  practical  as  it  is  obli- 
gatory— to  hear  other  Christians  avowing  their  readi- 
ness to  be  messengers  or  martyrs,  honoured  or  accurs- 
ed, any  thing*  or  nothing,  so  that  they  might  be  instru- 
mental in  promoting  it — to  see  churches  selecting  and 
sending  out  such  men  to  carry  the  Gospel  forward, 
and  other  churches  emulating  and  imitating  their  ex- 
ample— to  find  that  each  convert  as  he  comes  into  the 
church  is  expected  to  be  ever  at  his  post,  and  to  find 
that  each  church  as  it  comes  into  being  is  expected  to 
help  forward  in  the  universal  object-^to  see  that  each 
church  is  expected  to  join  in  the  triumph  of  all,  so  that 
the  success  of  one  church  is  the  rejoicing  of  all,  and 
that  if  they  suspend  their  efforts  for  a  time,  it  is  only 
to  prostrate  themselves  in  prayer  for  that  aid  which 
the  Spirit  alone  can  impart  and  which  furnishes  them 
with  energy  and  means  for  more  vigorous  endeavours 


♦  A    SERMON.  213 

and  louder  triumphs  still— this  is  a  spectacle,  which 
should  surely  leave  no  other  question  on  the  lips  of 
every  individual  Christian,  than  "  Where  is  my  post  ? 
What  shall  I  do  ?"  and  no  other  law  for  the  church 
universal  than  that  of  entire  consecration.  Now  this 
was  the  prayer  of  Christ,  not  for  the  apostles  only,  but 
for  them  also  (he  adds)  "  which  shall  believe  on  me 
through  their  word,  that  they  all  may  be  one,  as  thou, 
Father,  art  in  me  and  I  in  thee,  that  they  also  may  be 
one  in  us,  that  the  world  may  believe  that  thou  hast 
sent  me ;"  finding  themselves  acted  on  by  the  pres- 
ence of  "  whatsoever  things  are  pure  and  lovely  and 
of  good  report,"  by  hallowed  and  benignant  influences 
from  from  every  quarter  and  from  the  remotest  period 
of  the  church,  finding  themselves  surrounded  by  lofty 
examples  of  Christian  devotedness,  and  ever  standing 
in  the  presence  of  his  wondrous  cross,  he  prayed  that 
they  might  feel  theniselves  impelled  to  make  his  con- 
secration the  model  and  motive  of  their  own,  that  God 
might  be  glorified  and  man  saved. 

Be  it  remembered,  also,  that  there  is  a  sense,  in 
which  we  of  the  present  day  sustain  the  accumulated 
responsibility  of  the  eighteen  centuries,  which  have 
revolved  since  that  prayer  was  uttered.  In  each  suc- 
ceeding age,  "  the  truth"  to  which  that  prayer  refer- 
red (that  is,  the  Gospel)  has  been  exercising  its  conse- 
crating influence,  and  instrumentally  creating  eminent 
examples  of  moral  power — examples  of  conscientious- 
ness, which  treated  no  duty  as  unwelcome,  and  which 
evaded  no  obligation— of  fidelity,  which  spared  no  sin, 
nor  allowed  any  iniquity  (however  splendid  and  pow- 
erful) to  pass  unrebuked — examples  of  courage,  which 
cowered  before  no  opposition  and  shrunk  from  no  con- 
flict— of  enlarged  benevolence,  which  knew  no  limits 
to  its  plans  and  toils  and  travels  for  the  welfare  of 
man — examples  of  Christian  self-abandonment,  which 
swore  eternal  devotedness  to  Christ,  though  in  the 
presence  of  the  flames  which  were  kindled  for  its  mar- 
tyrdom— and  of  love  for  man,  which  even  in  those 
flames  wept  over  the  misery  of  the  world  and  agonis- 


214  CHRISTIAN    EXCELLENCE  :       » 

ed  in  prayer  for  its  recovery.  These  examples  are 
not  lost.  Though  their  memory  is  not  embalmed  in 
the  volume  of  inspiration,  their  influence  has  been  real- 
ly added  to  that  of  patriarchs  and  prophets,  of  apos- 
tles and  primitive  saints.  Whether  v^e  are  conscious 
of  its  stimulating  power  or  not,  we  are  all  at  this  mo- 
ment reaping  its  advantages,  and  are  consequently 
standing  under  the  weight  of  an  increased  responsi- 
bility. 

And  to  this  is  also  to  be  added  the  influence  acting 
on  us  from  the  prophetic  disclosures  of  the  future. 
The  torch,  which  the  hand  of  prophecy  holds  up, 
throws  its  beams  onward  to  the  consummation  of  all 
things.  By  this  light  we  catch  glimpses  of  noble  ex- 
amples yet  to  arise,  and  of  glories  yet  to  dawn. 
Many  are  seen  "  running  to  and  fro"  with  the  mes- 
sage of  salvation,  multitudes  flocking  to  embrace  it, 
angels  pouring  destruction  on  its  foes,  mountainous  ob- 
stacles rolled  from  its  path,  nations  walking  in  its  light, 
heaven  and  earth  celebrating  its  triumphs,  and  Christ 
encircled  by  his  redeemed  myriads  and  receiving  the 
homage  of  the  renewed  universe.  One  of  the  ob- 
vious intention  of  these  disclosures  is,  that  by  the  cer- 
tain prospect  they  aflTord  of  ultimate  success  the 
church  may  be  encouraged  to  act  out  its  divine  design, 
and  to  throw  all  its  sanctified  energies  into  the  object 
of  the  world's  recovery.  This  is  the  eflect,  which 
they  have  had  on  many  of  its  members  in  every  age ; 
"  having  seen  them  afar  off*,"  and  caught  their  inspi- 
ration, the  martyr  for  Christ  has  embraced  the  block, 
the  minister  has  startled  the  slumbering  church,  the 
missionary  has  gone  forth  to  arouse  the  slumbering 
world  ;  the  saint,  like  David,  has  exclaimed  in  death, 
"  Let  the  whole  earth  be  filled  with  his  glory" — and 
the  church  has  echoed  with  the  response  of  thousands 
adding,  "  Amen  and  Amen."  And  for  us  the  light  of 
prophecy  still  burns,  that  on  us  it  may  produce  the 
same  effect. 

And  shall  it  not  produce  it  ?  "  If  there  be  any 
virtue,"  here  there  is  nothing  else  ;  and  shall  we  not 


A  SERMON.  215 

copy  it  ?  "  If  there  be  any  praise,"  here  nothing  but 
praise  awaits  the  devoted  Christian  ;  and  shall  we  not 
aspire  to  win  it  ?  Oh !  if  there  existed  a  certain 
method  of  extinguishing  all  human  misery  and  replen- 
ishing the  world  with  joy,  would  you  not  desire  to  pro- 
mote it  ?  Such  a  method  there  is.  All  the  treasures 
of  eternity  have  been  lavished  on  it ;  "  all  creation  is 
groaning  and  travailing  in  pain  together"  for  want  of 
it ;  and  all  the  voices  of  heaven  and  earth  are  urging 
you  to  take  part  in  it.  If  you  knew  of  a  scheme  so 
vast  in  its  sweep  as  to  subordinate  all  other  plans  to  its 
own  designs,  so  varied  in  its  workings  as  to  demand 
the  strenuous  activity  of  every  agent  in  the  universe, 
and  yet  so  self-sufRcient  as  absolutely  to  stand  in  need 
of  none,  would  you  not  count  it  the  highest  honour  to 
take  part  in  it  ?  Need  I  remind  you  that  such  a  plan 
there  is  ? — ^that  in  the  arrangements  of  that  plan  a  post 
of  activity  is  assigned  to  each  of  you,  and  that  in  that 
post  (which  awaited  your  coming  into  the  world,)  the 
whole  of  your  consecrated  influence  was  bespoke  from 
•eternity  ?  If  we  could  inform  you  of  an  end,  so  great 
that  all  other  ends  stand  to  it  only  in  the  relation 
of  means,  so  lofty  that  there  is  nothing  higher,  so 
glorious  that  every  thing  else  is  honoured  by  serving 
it,  would  you  not  pant  to  be  identified  with  it  ?  Need 
I  remind  you  that  such  an  end  there  is  ? — that  the  one 
point,  the  sole  end,  to  which  every  thing  in  the  universe 
of  God  is  tending,  is  to  "  the  praise  of  the  glory  of 
his  grace" — ^that  apart  from  that  end,  nothing  is  great 
or  good — that  connected  with  it,  nothing  is  mean  or 
little — ^that  it  hallows  whatever  it  touches,  and  enobles 
whatever  it  employs — that  consequently  it  is  our  high- 
est wisdom  to  form  such  a  plan,  each  one  for  himself, 
as  shall  link  us  on  to  that  infinite  ultimate  end  as  its 
humble  willing  agents,  and  as  shall  appropriate  all  our 
moments  and  all  our  powers  to  this  grand  design  ?  If  we 
could  tell  you  of  a  day  when  all  the  holy  excellence  in 
the  universe  shall  be  collected  together  in  the  presence 
of  God,  and  all  the  holy  beings  in  the  universe  shall  be 
convened  together  to  admire  and  to  praise  it,  and  when 


216  CHRISTIAN    EXCELLENCE  : 

God  himself  shall  applaud  it  in  language  with  which 
eternity  shall  never  cease  to  resound,  would  you  not 
cheerfully  give  all  the  world  (were  it  yours)  to  share 
in  the  transports  of  that  day  ?  Need  I  remind  you, 
that  such  a  day  there  will  be  ? — that  Christ  himself 
will  preside  over  its  transactions,  and  that  inconceivable 
eternal  blessing  will  be  his  certain  award  to  every  one 
present  devoted  to  his  service  ?  If  in  the  revolutions 
of  time  there  should  come  a  period,  when  events  should 
thicken,  when  all  the  agencies  of  providence  should 
seem  urged  into  unusual  activity,  and  all  things  seem 
rushing  to  that  final  issue,  would  you  not  long  to  live 
in  that  period  and  to  take  part  in  its  scenes  ?  Need  I 
remind  you  that  that  time  has  come — that  that  period 
is  the  present  ?  Brethren,  we  stand  in  the  midst  of  a 
scheme,  which  unites  us  with  all  the  past,  and  is  in  pro- 
gross  with  all  the  future.  Upon  our  heads  the  rela- 
tions,  influences,  and  consequent  responsibilities  of  all 
the  past  meet  and  rest ;  and  to  us  the  ends  of  the 
earth,  the  remotest  generations  of  time,  and  all  the 
holy  beings  and  interests  in  the  universe  are  looking 
for  corresponding  fidelity  and  zeal.  Whoever  may 
deem  it  necessary  to  form  plans  of  independent  action^ 
we  are  surely  exempted  from  that  necessity  ;  for  we 
ourselves  form  part  of  a  plan,  in  which  every  beings 
from  the  loftiest  archangel  to  the  lowliest  saint,  has  his 
course  assigned,  and  every  holy  act  its  appointed  effect^ 
so  that  the  only  solicitude  left  for  us  is  how  best  we 
may  satisfy  its  high  requirements.  Boast  who  may,  of 
extensive  relations  and  influences  ;  this  plan  connects 
us  with  every  being  and  agency  in  the  past,  and  places 
in  our  hand  lines  of  interminable  relation  and  influ- 
ence with  all  the  universal  and  endless  future.  Trem- 
ble who  may,  under  a  sense  of  responsibility ;  upon 
us  "  the  ends  of  the  world  are  come."  Our  very 
position  consecrates  us  to  the  loftiest  service,  clothes  us 
with  the  weightiest  obligations,  surrounds  us  with  anx- 
ious eyes  and  cries  of  solicitude  from  every  quarter  of 
the  divine  dominion.  For  the  church  to  be  faithful 
NOW,  is  to  save  the  world.     Now,  if  ever,  "  the  weak 


A  SERMON.  217 

should  be  as  David,  and  David  as  an  angel  of  the 
Lord."  Now,  if  ever,  prayer  should  wrestle — liber- 
ality should  bring  forth  its  richest  offerings,  its  final 
mite — the  church  should  unite,  and  clothe  itself  with 
zeal.  For  now,  if  ever,  crowns  may  be  gained,  and 
kingdoms  won,  and  a  world  in  the  crisis  of  its  danger 
may  be  saved — crowns  to  be  cast  at  the  feet  of  Christ, 
kingdoms  of  which  Christ  is  the  rightful  Lord,  and  a 
world  from  which  he  is  destined  to  derive  his  richest 
revenue  of  praise  for  ever. 

May  God  command  his  blessing. — Amen. 


Christian  friends,  I  may  suppose  that  nearly  all  of 
you  are  acquainted  with  the  particular  circumstances, 
which  have  called  us  together  this  morning.  For  the 
information  of  such  of  you  as  may  not  be  acquainted 
with  the  occasion  of  our  convening,  I  will  read  you 
the  following  statement : — 

"  This  chapel  was  enlarged  last  year  ;  but  the  altera- 
tions could  not  then  be  completed.  Besides  the  sittings 
obtained  for  adults,  the  gallery  built  for  the  Sabbath 
school  will  hold  two  hundred  and  sixty-eight  children ; 
the  ceiling,  gas,  and  pulpit,  are  entirely  new ;  the 
substantial  repairs  have  been  heavy  and  extensive.  It 
was  stated  last  year,  that  the  expenses  would  only 
amount  to  about  eight  hundred  pounds,  but  they  have 
exceeded  that  sum.  The  church  and  congregation 
have  given  so  liberally,  that  if  about  one  hundred  and 
thirty  pounds  are  collected  this  day,  the  whole  of  the 
expenses  will  be  liquidated.  It  is  hoped  that  this  sum 
will  be  raised  before  the  day  closes.  And  an  earnest 
appeal  is  made  to  the  friends  of  the  Redeemer  now 
assembled,  on  behalf  of  so  Christian  and  legitimate 
an  object.  If  all  contribute,  (and  all  can  give  in  pro- 
portion to  their  means,)  the  amount  required  will  be 
realised." 

As  an  appropriate  conclusion  to  the  remarks  which 
have  been  advanced  this  morning,  and  in  reference  to 


218  CHRISTIAN    EXCELLENCE  :    A  SERMON. 

the  collection  now  to  be  made,  I  might  have  added, 
had  your  time  permitted — Whatsoever  things  are  noble 
in  Christian  liberality,  emulate  and  exceed  them.  I 
will,  however,  add  but  one  sentence  in  addition  to  this 
statement.  If,  as  we  have  remarked,  in  the  arrange- 
ments of  the  mediatorial  kingdom  a  post  of  duty  is 
assigned  for  every  Christian,  it  is  as  true  that  at  that 
post  there  is  a  duty  assigned  for  his  every  moment ;  the 
duty  of  this  moment  is  Christian  liberality. 


ESSAYS,  &c, 


THE  BIBLE. 


Not  long  ago  a  proposition  was  made  to  prepare  a 
book  of  asbestos,  whose  pages  should  record  the  annals 
of  the  world  ;  and  as  the  material  is  incombustible, 
and  would  survive  the  fires  of  the  last  day,  the  volume 
was  to  be  called  "  The  Book  of  Eternity."  Vain  as- 
piration !  the  true  book  of  eternity  is  already  extant — 
the  Bible  ;  and  with  this  vast  superiority  over  the  hu- 
man invention,  that  it  is  mysteriously  related  to  a  two- 
fold eternity :  it  is  the  gift  of  the  past  eternity  to  time, 
and  will  finally  be  restored  by  time  to  the  eternity 
which  is  yet  to  come.  It  is  a  leaf  from  the  book  of  the 
divine  decrees  ;  it  reveals  thoughts  which  were  revolv- 
ed from  everlasting  in  the  mind  of  God ;  in  its  march 
through  time  it  scatters  those  thoughts  like  seeds, 
whose  fruit  is  to  be  gathered  in  eternity.  It  is  the 
voice  of  one  eternity  speaking  to  another,  for  the  ben- 
efit of  every  listening  child  of  time  and  heir  of  im- 
mortality. It  has  never  been  out  of  the  hand  of  the 
Eternal ;  though  he  graciously  presents  it  to  us  as  an 
open  book,  and  turns  it  over,  page  by  page,  to  the 
willing  eye,  yet  it  will  hereafter  appear,  that  he  has 
never  allowed  it  to  pass  out  of  his  keeping,  but  has  al- 
ways held  it  in  the  hollow  of  his  hand.  This  alone 
will  account  for  its  preservation. 

So  copiously  did  the  Fathers  quote  from  the  New 
Testament,  especially  from  the  gospels,  that  had  that 


220  THE    BIBLE  : 

portion  of  Scripture  been  destroyed,  their  writings,  it 
is  said,  would  have  supplied  and  restored  the  whole 
again.  That  destruction  will  eventually  take  place ; 
but  when  the  final  conflagration  shall  have  reduced  the 
material  of  the  Bible  to  ashes,  the  indestructible  truths 
will  be  found  transcribed  by  the  finger  of  the  Spirit, 
and  enshrined  in  the  hearts  of  the  renewed.  The  dis- 
embodied spirit  of  truth  will  appear  before  the  throne 
of  God,  and  beholding  in  every  face  the  reflection  of 
her  own  image,  will  justly  claim  them  all  for  her  off- 
spring. 

There  are  certain  places  on  the  face  of  the  globe 
which  mankind  seem,  by  general  consent,  to  have  se- 
lected for  the  theatres  of  great  events.  Such,  for  in- 
stance, is  the  Plain  of  Esdrelom,  the  battle-field  of 
empires,  where  every  nation  of  the  old  world  has  seen 
its  banners  wet  with  the  dew  of  Hermon.  And  such 
the  Mediterranean,  the  naumachia  of  the  nations, 
where  empire  has  often  been  lost  and  won.  But  the 
Bible  is  the  arena  of  more  and  higher  conflicts  still ;  It 
is  at  once  the  object  of  contest,  the  armoury  which 
supplies  the  weapons,  and  the  chosen  ground  of  strug- 
gle. Why  has  it  witnessed  more  frequent  and  fierce 
encounters  than  any  other  object  on  the  face  of  the 
earth  ?  Ask  why  is  the  rock  of  Gibraltar  an  object  of 
fierce  contention  in  every  war  with  the  power  that 
holds  it.  Why  is  the  pass  of  Thermopylas  steeped  to 
the  centre  with  blood  ?  The  Bible  is  the  frontier  for- 
tress of  the  church;  all  the  armies  of  error,  in  every 
age,  have  beleaguered  it ;  but  the  sons  of  truth,  who 
hold  it  for  God,  have  received  it  with  this  address, 
"  Here  stand,  and  the  gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail 
against  you ;"  and  they  "  loved  not  their  lives  unto 
the  death." 

The  Bible  is  the  true  prophet  of  hope.  The  books 
of  pagan  antiquity  sung  only  of  the  golden-aged  past ; 
for  the  future,  their  moral  was  despair.  Like  the 
stern-lights  of  a  ship,  the  radiance  they  threw  fell  only 
on  the  track  behind.  The  Bible  builds  on  the  future  ; 
the  chorus  of  all  its  songs  is  of  a  glory  to  come.     In 


AN    ESSAY.  g21 

the  mid-winter  of  humanity  it  has  gone  on  sowing 
light  for  the  righteous — seeds  of  the  sun.  And  in  the 
captivity  of  the  church,  when  the  daughter  of  Sion  sat 
disconsolate  in  her  chains,  the  voice  of  the  Bible  has 
ever  been,  "  Arise,  and  shine."  No  dell  of  Tempe, 
no  garden  of  the  Hesperides,  no  vale  of  Cashmere, 
no  slope  on  the  banks  of  Genesareth,  where  the  sea- 
sons met  and  danced  together,  ever  dazzled  with  more 
golden  fruit,  or  charmed  with  fairer  verdure  and  richer 
fragrance,  than  the  Bible  presents  in  the  moral  land- 
scape of  the  future. 

"  O  scenes  surpassing  fable,  and  yet  true ! 
Scenes  of  accomplished  bliss  !  which  who  can  see,' 
Though  but  in  distant  prospect,  and  not  feel 
His  soul  refreshed  with  foretaste  of  the  joy  ? 
Rivers  of  gladness  water  all  the  earth, 
And  clothe  all  climes  with  beauty.    *        *        *        * 
The  various  seasons  woven  into  one, 
And  that  one  season  an  eternal  spring." 

To  the  Bible,  the  great  philosophers,  legislators,  and 
founders  of  ancient  sects  were  indebted,  directly  or 
indirectly,  for  nearly  every  thing  excellent  in  their 
codes  and  systems. 

"  Hither,  as  to  their  fountain,  other  stars 
Repairing,  in  their  golden  urns  drew  light." 

A  live  coal  from  off  its  altar,  quickly  transmitted, — 
like  the  torch  passed  from  hand  to  hand  in  the  lamp- 
game  of  the  Grecian  youth — kindled  the  light  of  Per- 
sia, Greece,  and  Rome.  Hence,  doubtless,  Plato  drew 
the  dim  conception  which  he  is  supposed  to  have  en- 
tertained, of  the  necessity  of  a  divine  Mediator; 
whether  from  an  indistinct  echo  of  the  patriarchal 
faith,  or  from  rays  refracted  from  the  Hebrew  prophets, 
through  a  Phoenician  medium,  it  is  not  easy  to  deter- 
mine. Probably  both  co-operated,  with  his  own  deep 
sense  of  necessity,  in  partially  unveiling  the  awful 
truth  to  this  divine  philosopher,  this  "  plant  from  the 


222  THE    BIBLE  : 

wreck  of  Paradise,  thrown  on  the  shores  of  idolatrous 
.  Greece." 

The  Bible  is  distinguished  from  every  other  book 
professedly  inspired — from  Shasters  of  the  Brahmin 
and  the  Koran  of  Mahomet — by  its  earnest  commen- 
dations of  knowledge.  Imposture  fears  the  light ;  the 
Bible  courts  and  creates  it.  Not  only  does  it  extol 
knowledge  as  a  glory,  it  excites  a  thirst  for  it,  and 
commands  us  to  seek  after  it  as  a  most  sacred  duty. 

And,  O,  what  a  field  for  contemplation  does  it  lay 
open !  It  is  the  history  of  a  world,  of  our  own  world 
— its  morning,  its  meridian,  its  many  changes,  its  pro- 
spective close.  The  countless  multitudes  of  antiquity 
pass  before  our  eyes,  the  heroes,  and  tyrants,  and 
martyrs  of  old  time,  their  enormous  wealth,  their  glit- 
tering palaces,  and  mighty  cities.  We  hear  the  tumult 
of  their  armies,  and  the  fame  of  their  kings  proclaim- 
ed,— Assyrian  and  Persian,  Babylonian,  Egyptian, 
and  Mede  ;  and  all  is  suddenly  swept  away.  Another 
king  or  conqueror  comes,  and  another  army,  more  nu- 
merous than  the  last,  and  that,  too,  perishes  before  our 
eyes ;  and  another  after  rises  up,  and  then  another. 
And  all  these  men  were  our  fathers,  whose  virtues 
and  vices  are  recorded  in  blazing  letters,  and  whose 
punishment  or  reward  is  made  known  to  the  uttermost 
regions  of  the  earth,  for  the  benefit  and  guidance  of 
us  their  sons.  Were  it  but  the  ruin  of  a  history  it 
would  be  venerable  ;  were  it  a  fiction,  only  it  would 
be  a  grand  one  ;  but  it  is  complete  and  true,  it  is  full 
of  general  as  well  as  individual  interest,  it  is  replete 
with  simple  and  manly  narration,  with  passionate  ap- 
peals, and  overwhelming  eloquence.  It  is  addressed 
to  ourselves,  it  is  connected  with  us  and  our  well-be- 
ing ;  it  gives  us  a  story  of  the  past,  and  a  lesson  for 
the  future.  There  is  nothing  in  Homer  which  can 
mate  with  the  soaring  spirit  of  its  poetry  ;  there  is 
nothing  in  Virgil  which  can  equal  the  gentle  pathos  of 
its  strains ;  Dante  is  less  awful,  and  Ariosto  less  wild  ; 
even  Milton,  who  has  topped  the  sublimity  of  all  other 
writers,  and  Shakspeare,  who  has  surpassed  the  united 


AN   ESSAY.  223 

world  in  prodigality  of  imagery  and  variety  of  thought, 
must  yield  to  the  infinite  grandeur  and  beauty  which 
are  impressed  on  the  living  oracles,  or  scattered  in  ex- 
uberance over  every  page. 

I  have  said  the  Bible  is  the  history  of  our  world ; 
but  this  is  not  saying  enough,  its  subject  is  the  fate  of 
worlds,  the  revolutions  of  heaven  and  of  earth — des- 
truction and  restoration  on  the  vastest  scale.  It  is 
more  than  the  history  of  all  this,  it  is  the  philosophy 
of  the  history  ;  and,  more  than  this,  the  theology  of 
the  philosophy.  But  in  the  remarks  I  have  made,  I 
have  only  ascended  the  steps  of  the  temple,  the  hal- 
lowed interior  is  yet  to  be  viewed.  For  the  present,  it 
only  remains  for  us  to  admire  the  manner  in  which  the 
Bible  embodies  its  great  doctrines,  and  inculcates  its 
great  lessons.  It  narrates  interesting  facts,  and  teaches 
by  example.  And  here  I  shall  avail  myself  of  a  par- 
agraph in  Mr.  Binney's  "  Discourses  on  the  Practical 
Power  of  Faith  :"  "  We  are  more  likely  to  be  success- 
ful in  our  inculcation  of  duty,  if  we  not  only  state 
what  it  is  right  to  do,  but  actually  show  how  it  has 
been  done.  The  mind,  in  such  cases,  seems  to  have 
the  advantage  of  another  sense — it  not  only  hears,  but 
it  sees  ;  the  understanding  is  not  only  put  in  possession 
of  truth,  but  the  fancy  is  furnished  with  illustrations 
and  images.  Many  a  man  who  could  not  comprehend 
the  arguments  for  a  particular  providence,  can  feel  the 
proof  as  seen  in  the  lives  of  Abraham  or  Joseph.  He 
whose  weakness  would  be  overcome  by  temptation  or 
calamity,  could  he  remember  nothing  but  the  abstract 
precepts  of  the  preacher,  may  be  stimulated  to  exert 
both  firmness  and  faith,  by  knowing  that  others  have 
been  equally  tempted,  without  sacrficing  their  virtue, 
and  equally  afflicted,  without  losing  their  confidence. 
For  this  very  purpose,  we  imagine,  has  the  Holy  Spirit 
included  so  much  of  an  historical  nature  in  the  inspired 
volume.  On  the  same  account,  our  divine  Lord  con- 
veyed most  of  his  instructions  in  parables,  embodying, 
in  the  intelligible  actions  of  men,  the  particular  truth 
he    intended    to    enforce.      This    was  emphatically 


224  AN   ESSAY. 

'  teaching  the  multitude.'  The  mass  of  mankind  feel, 
rather  than  reason  ;  they  arrive  at  truth  by  sensation, 
rather  than  by  argument ;  the  voice  of  nature  from 
within,  responds  to  the  voice  of  nature  from  without. 
They  cannot  go  along  with  you,  perhaps,  in  your 
demonstration  of  a  principle ;  but  they  can  compre- 
hend the  principle  itself.  They  can  learn  nothing 
from  a  laboured  disquisition  on  the  beauty  of  virtue  ; 
but  they  can  both  see  its  beauty  and  feel  its  attractions, 
if  presented  before  them  in  action  and  character. 
Now,  by  becoming  familiar  with  the  history  of  holy 
men,  you  will  become  familiar  with  the  principles  of 
religion  itself;  for  it  is  these,  in  fact,  you  are  required 
to  contemplate,  embodied  in  obvious  and  striking  illus- 
trations." On  this  account  I  am  pleased  to  notice  a 
book  called,  "  Interesting  Narratives  from  the  Sacred 
Volume,  Illustrated  and  Improved,"  by  the  Rev.  J. 
Belcher,  a  volume  of  which  I  have  only  left  myself 
room  to  say,  that  it  is  calculated  to  interest  and  instruct 
the  young,  to  invigorate  the  best  principles  of  the 
Christian,  and  to  aid  the  Christian  minister  in  his  pre- 
paration for  the  pulpit,  by  giving  him  a  connected 
bird's-eye  view  of  the  many  Scripture  narratives  of 
which  it  treats. 


DIVINE   CONDESCENSION. 


Some  of  the  most  magnificent  expressions  of  Scripture 
are  those  which  relate  to  the  Divine  condescension. 
The  doctrine  that  the  infinite  God,  who  inhal)its  im- 
mensity and  eternity,  enters  minutely  into  all  the  affairs 
of  his  creatures,  presented  to  the  mind  of  the  psalmist 
an  image  of  condescension  so  overwhelming,  that  he 
exclaimed,  "  Who  is  like  unto  the  Lord  our  God  who 
dwelleth  on  high,  who  humbleth  himself  to  behold 
the  things  that  are  in  heaven,  and  in  the  earth !"  Ob- 
serve, he  couples  together  the  things  that  are  in  heaven 
and  earth  without  distinction.  Now,  to  our  apprehen- 
sion, the  things  of  heaven  are  inconceivably  greater, 
more  important,  more  worthy  the  Divine  attention,  than 
the  things  of  earth.  But  in  the  eye  of  God  the  differ- 
ence is  only  a  difference  in  minute  degrees — a  differ- 
ence in  degrees  of  littleness — and  therefore,  in  itself, 
a  very  little  difference. 

Were  you,  from  the  top  of  some  lofty  eminence, 
some  dizzy  height,  to  look  down  upon  two  objects — 
the  one  a  man  and  the  other  a  child — though  they 
would  doubtless  consider  the  difference  between  them- 
selves to  be  very  great,  to  you  it  would  appear  to  be 
very  little,  if  any.  This,  indeed,  would  arise  from 
the  necessary  imperfection  of  your  organs  of  sight — 
but  idea  may  serve  for  an  illustration.  For  while  to 
our  apprehension  the  things  of  heaven  are  unspeakably 
greater  than  the  things  of  earth,  we  are  to  bear  in 
mind  that  the  Almighty  is  infinitely  higher  then  the 
highest  created  intelligence  in  heaven ;  that  while  the 
difference  between  the  highest  and  the  lowest  of  his 
creatures  can  be  measured,  the  difference  between 
him  and  the  highest  creature  which  he  has  formed 
.      15 


226  DIVINE  condescension: 

cannot  be  measured ;  so  that  he  has  to  look  down — ^^(if 
we  may  say  so)  he  has  to  look  down  from  an  infinite 
height  upon  the  highest  as  well  as  upon  the  lowest, 
upon  the  things  that  are  in  heaven  as  well  as  upon  the 
things  that  are  in  the  earth.  The  wonder  is  that  he 
condescends  to  regard  the  things  that  are  in  heaven  ; 
but  having  stooped  thus  far,  we  are  prepared  to  hear 
that  he  stoops  a  little  farther,  and  regards  the  things 
that  are  on  earth.  For  though  there  is  a  difference 
between  them,  and  though  his  eye  measures  that  differ- 
ence in  all  its  proportions,  yet  is  it  really  so  insignificant 
to  Him  whom  heaven  and  the  heaven  of  heavens  can- 
not contain,  that  it  is  an  act  of  infinite  condescension 
in  him  to  notice  either. 

Looking  at  the  history  of  this  condescension  towards 
man,  there  appear  to  have  been  four  remarkable  stages 
in  it,  at  each  of  which  we  behold  him  carrying  it  a 
degree  farther  than  before,  until  he  has  reached  the 
very  lowest  point  to  which  it  could  be  carried.  We 
say  nothing  of  the  benignity  which  he  displayed  to- 
wards our  first  parents,  while  yet  they  retained  their 
original  purity, — benignity  which  showed  itself  in 
symbolically  walking  with  them  in  paradise,  in  visible 
manifestations,  in  frequent  and  familiar  converse. 
That  belonged  to  a  state  which  soon  passed  away,  and 
of  which  we  know  little  more  than  this — that  it  once 
existed.  But  we  have  to  contemplate  the  Divine  con- 
duct in  a  subsequent  and  far  different  state — a  state 
which  was  commenced  by  an  act  of  disobedience  and 
rebellion  against  God — a  state  in  which  man  has  out- 
raged every  attribute  of  the  Divine  character,  in  which 
he  has  lost  all  love  and  likeness  to  God,  and  has  joined 
in  league  with  his  enemies ;  in  which  the  prevailing 
habit  of  his  mind  is  that  of  enmity  against  God ;  and 
a  state,  therefore,  in  which  his  holy  and  insulted  Maker 
might  justly  have  left  him  to  perish,  and  have  with- 
drawn and  enclosed  himself  for  ever  within  the  depths 
of  his  everlasting  dwelling-place. 

Now  it  was  towards  man  in  this  state  that  the  Al- 
mighty took  the  first  step  in  his  career  of  condescen- 


AN    ESSAY.  227 

sion,  hy  speaking  to  him.  He  broke  the  fearful  silence 
which  siri  had  produced,  and  which  might  have  lasted 
for  ever,  and  spoke  to  us.  And  every  accent  he  utter- 
ed was  an  accent  of  love.  For  the  sentence  which 
consigned  our  bodies  to  the  stroke  of  death  was  only 
the  application  of  what  had  been  previously  threaten- 
ed ;  while  every  additional  word  was  intended  to  miti- 
gate that  doom,  by  inspiring  us  with  the  hope  of  being 
finally  delivered  from  it.  And  having  broken  the 
silence,  he  proceeded  to  address  us  at  sundry  times  and 
in  divers  manners.  He  prescribed  the  way  by  which 
we  might  hope  to  regain  his  favour  ;  he  added  promise 
after  promise  to  encourage  our  obedience  ;  and  though 
it  did  not  comport  with  the  majesty  of  his  holiness  to 
maintain,  as  before,  familiar  intercourse  with  our  pollut- 
ed race,  yet  every  time  he  spoke  to  us  he  opened  a 
fresh  view  of  his  excellence,  and  furnished  an  addition- 
al proof  of  his  condescension. 

Another  stage  in  his  divine  condescension  to  man 
was,  when  he  appointed  a  place  for  the  symbol  of  his 
presence  to  dwell  in,  and  where  man  might  be  always 
welcome  to  approach  and  commune  with  him.  That 
Presence,  indeed,  was  concealed  from  the  public  eye, 
and  could  be  approached  only  in  a  prescribed  manner. 
But  still  it  was  a  vast  advance  in  the  Divine  condescen- 
sion :  it  seemed  to  say  that  his  benignity  knew  no 
limits ;  it  seemed  to  place  earth  in  close  proximity  to 
heaven.  When  Solomon  offered  up  the  first  prayer  at 
the  dedication  of  that  hallowed  edifice,  he  appears  to 
have  been  almost  overwhelmed  with  the  idea  : — "  Will 
God,"  said  he,  "  in  very  deed  dwell  with  man  upon  the 
earth  ?  Behold,  heaven  and  the  heaven  of  heavens 
cannot  contain  thee,  how  much  less  this  house  which 
I  have  built !"  Will  the  Divine  Omnipresence  take  up 
his  dwelling  here  ?  Is  not  the  expectation  too  great 
to  be  realized  ?  Will  he  do  so  "  in  very  deed .?"  To 
this  appeal  of  his  servant,  which  showed  a  mind  labour- 
ing and  staggering  under  the  amazing  conception,  the 
Almighty  replied,  "  I  have  chosen  and  sanctified  this 
house,  that  my  name  may  be  there  for  ever ;  and  mine 


228  DIVINE  condescension: 

eyes  and  mine  heart  shall  be  there  perpetually."  And 
through  a  long  succession  of  ages  he  continued  to 
meet  with  his  people  there,  and  to  commune  with  them 
from  off  the  mercy-seat. 

But  all  this — astonishing  as  it  was — was  only  pre- 
liminary. The  next  stage  in  the  condescension  of 
God  to  man  threw  all  its  past  history  into  the  shade. 
The  "  Word"  himself  became  flesh  and  dwelt  among 
us.  Great,  indeed,  is  the  mystery  of  godliness  :  God 
was  manifest  "  in  the  jlesW'^ — came  and  tabernacled 
among  us  in  our  own  nature.  By  a  mysterious  act  he 
took  our  nature  into  union  with  his  own,  and  actually 
walked  the  earth,  conversed  with  us,  instructed  us, 
pitied  and  wept  over  us,  by  all  the  arts  of  a  divine 
compassion  commended  his  love  to  us.  This  was  a 
stoop  of  condescension  immeasurably  deep.  Beyond 
this  (we  might  have  said)  he  cannot  go — even  he  can- 
not go.  He  has  now  reached  the  lowest  point  to 
which  he  can  descend,  for  he  has  reached  the  low 
basement  of  earth,  he  has  placed  himself  on  a  perfect 
level  with  ourselves.  We  have  now  seen  the  utmost 
limits  of  his  condescending  grace. 

"  But  my  thoughts  are  not  your  thoughts,  neither 
are  your  ways  my  ways,  saith  the  Lord."  Look  at 
that  cross — at  Him  who  hangs  upon  it.  Look  at  that 
bleeding  form — that  is  a  lower  point  of  condescen- 
sion. He  is  dying — dying  for  us — dying  for  us  the 
accursed  death  of  the  cross.  "  He  was  in  the  form  of 
God,  and  thought  it  not  robbery  to  be  equal  with  God ; 
but  he  made  himself  of  no  reputation,  and  took  upon 
him  the  form  of  a  servant  and  was  made  in  the  like- 
ness of  men ;  and  being  found  in  fashion  as  a  man,  he 
humbled  himself  and  became  obedient  unto  death, 
even  the  death  of  the  cross."  That  was,  indeed,  the 
lowest  point  to  which  he  could  descend.  The  sun 
shrunk  back,  amazed  at  that  sight ;  angels  hung  over 
it  perplexed,  unable  to  comprehend  it.  All  nature 
sympathized  and  wondered.  And  shall  we,  for  whom 
all  this  voluntary  humiliation  was  endured,  be  the  only 
beings  who  are  unmoved  by  it  ? 


AN    ESSAY.  229 

Let  us  glance  at  the  ground  over  which  we  have 
passed.  We  have  seen  that  man  had  reduced  himself 
to  the  condition  of  an  enemy  against  God ;  and  that 
with  this  condition  he  was  in  love,  when  God,  who  is 
rich  in  mercy,  resumed  the  intercourse  which  sin  had 
interrupted,  by  speaking  to  him.  This  was  the  com- 
mencing act  of  his  condescension — and  it  was  amaz- 
ing. When  any  thing  of  a  similar  kind  takes  place 
among  men — when  a  party  injured  is  known  to  have 
spoken  first  to  the  party  which*  injured  him,  especially 
too  if  he  be  his  superior  in  rank — the  act  is  spoken  of 
with  unfeigned  admiration.  But  that  the  Creator 
should  have  thus  acted  towards  his  creature — that  the 
infinite  God  should  have  first  spoken,  and  have  spoken 
amicably,  to  the  poor,  alienated,  debased  children  of 
men,  surpasses  unspeakably  the  utmost  condescension 
which  man  can  show  to  his  fellow-man.  And  still 
more,  that  he  should  appoint  a  place  for  his  presence 
to  dwell  in,  where  we  might  go  and  commune  with 
him ;  that  he  should  hide  from  our  sight  the  glories  of 
his  throne,  lest  they  should  overwhelm  our  feeble 
spirits ;  that  he  should  conceal  from  us  the  ministries 
of  his  celestial  court,  and,  dismissing  that  train  which 
fiUeth  the  temple  above,  should  stoop  to  visit  the  lowly 
abodes  of  those  that  fear  him,  and  dwell  as  a  Father 
in  the  homes  of  earth — this  was  a  lower  stage  in  his 
condescension  stilL  That  he  should  have  left  the  high 
and  holy  place  which  he  had  inhabited  from  eternity, 
and  have  assumed  the  nature  of  his  creature  man,  and 
have  become  a  resident  on  earth,  was  another  and  a 
far  lower  stage  in  his  condescension  still.  But  that 
while  here  he  should  have  submitted  to  suffer  death — 
"  the  death  of  the  cross" — by  the  hand  of  those  he 
came  to  redeem — was  a  depth  of  condescension  never 
before  imagined,  never  after  to  be  surpassed.  If  he 
humbles  himself  when  he  only  deigns  "  to  behold  the 
things  that  are  in  heaven  and  earth,"  then  what  shall  we 
say  of  his  condescension  in  becoming  flesh,  and  dying 
for  us  ?     It  is  the  everlasting  wonder  of  the  universe. 


DIVINE  CONDESCENSION,  HUMAN 
EXALTATION. 


The  condescension  of  God,  as  already  traced  in  its 
downward  stages,  was  not  ostentation  and  display.  It 
could  not  fail  to  be  productive  of  certain  effects ;  for 
as  surely  as  the  natural  operation  of  his  justice  would 
have  tended  to  destroy,  so  certainly  the  operation  of 
his  love  would  have  a  tendency  to  save.  And  it  could 
not  be  otherwise  than  that  these  restorative  effects  should 
be  commensurate  with  the  degree  of  condescension 
which  he  exercised ;  they  would  correspond  in  meas- 
ure as  well  as  in  kind.  Accordingly,  we  find  that  this 
exact  correspondence  obtains :  He  stooped  to  earth 
that  we  might  be  raised  to  heaven  ;  he  partook  of  our 
human  nature  that  we  might  be  made  partakers  of  his 
divine  ;  he  died  an  ignominious  death  that  we  might 
live  a  glorified  and  eternal  life. 

In  glancing  at  the  pinnacle  of  distinction  to  which 
man  is  raised,  let  us  mark  two  or  three  of  the  more 
elevated  stages  in  the  ascending  scale.  The  lowest  to 
which  we  shall  allude  is  that  of  a  servant  of  the  most 
high  God.  From  being  the  slaves  of  sin,  he  advances 
us  into  his  high  and  holy  service.  He  has  no  need  of 
our  services,  for  he  is  self-sufficient,  and  could  accom- 
plish every  thing  by  the  word  of  his  power  ;  or  if  he 
chose  to  surround  himself  with  obedient  servants,  as 
a  thing  becoming  his  majesty  and  state,  he  might  have 
taken  them  all  from  the  inhabitants  of  the  heavenly 
world.*      They   have  never  revolted  from  him,  never 

*  If  the  writer  mistake  not,  there  is  a  passage  somewhere  in  the 
celebrated  Howe's  works,  the  scope  of  which  bears  a  resemblance  to 
this  paragraph. 


AN    ESSAY.  231 

abused  his  goodness,  nor  renounced  his  authority,  as 
we  have  done  ;  but  have  ever  counted  it  their  highest 
honour  to  adore  and  serve  him.  How  astonishing  is 
it,  then,  that  he  should  come  to  seek  for  servants  in 
this  sinful  world !  that  he  should  call  any  into  his  ser- 
vice from  among  our  apostate  and  guilty  race  !  And 
yet  he  does  this  ;  and  he  does  it  in  a  manner  as  though 
he  were  really  dependent  on  our  services,  as  though 
he  were  unable  to  conduct  the  affairs  of  his  govern- 
ment without  us  ;  for  he  not  only  calls  us,  he  urges, 
and  entreats,  and  even  offers  to  reward  us,  though  we 
can  never  be  otherwise  than  unprofitable  servants.  If 
we  neglect  his  first  invitations  he  repeats  them  ;  if  we 
faint  in  his  service  he  supports  and  encourages  us-;  if 
we  revolt  from  his  service  he  actually  follows  and 
brings  us  back  to  it  again  ;  he  stoops  to  do  that  which 
we  should  count  it  a  degradation  to  do  to  our  fellow- 
creatures.  He  reminds  us  that  angels  are  our  fellow- 
servants  ;  he  calls  us  co-workers  together  with  himself; 
he  even  engages  to  applaud  us  at  last  in  the  face  of  the 
universe,  by  saying,  "  Well  done,  good  and  faithful 
servants,  enter  ye  into  the  joy  of  your  Lord." 

But  if  it  be  an  honour  to  be  advanced  into  the  ser^ 
vice  of  God,  how  surpassing  the  distinction  of  being 
raised  into  his  friendship  I  And  yet  this  is  his  lan- 
guage, "  Ye  are  my  friends  ;  henceforth  I  call  you 
not  servants,  but  friends,"  Had  he  only  regarded  his 
people  in  the  light  of  his  servants,  he  would  only  have 
laid  his  commands  upon  them;  and  even  this  would 
have  beer!  conferring  on  them  an  honour  which  angels 
are  emulous  and  happy  to  enjoy.  But  he  not  only  en- 
trusts them  with  his  commands,  he  shares  with  them 
his  secrets,  and  honours  them  with  his  confidence. 
He  gives  them  the  utmost  freedom  of  access  to  him, 
permitting  them  to  come  even  to  his  seat,  and  to 
enter  the  secret  of  his  pavilion.  They  share  his  sym- 
pathy, his  counsel,  and  his  aid ;  and  in  return,  they 
feel  a  growing  congeniality  with  his  character,  make 
his  cause  their  own,  and  rejoice  when  it  is  promoted, 
as  though  their  own  interests  were  advanced.     They 


232  DIVINE    CONDESCENSION,   ETC. 

are  conscious  of  a  holy  jealousy  for  the  honour  of  his 
name,  as  if  it  were  committed  entirely  to  their  custo- 
dy, or  as  if  their  own  life  and  happiness  were  bound 
up  with  it.  O  how  exalted  and  how  ennobling  is  this 
relation  to  God  !  and  yet  it  is  their  privilege  to  sustain 
it :  they  are  known  in  heaven,  though  they  may  not  be 
on  earth,  as  the  friends  of  God, 

But  they  sustain  a  relation  still  higher,  if  possible, 
than  this  :  "  Beloved,"  says  an  apostle,  "  now  are  we 
the  sons  of  God."  "  Ye  are  all  the  children  of  God," 
says  another  apostle,  "  by  faith  in  Christ  Jesus." 
"  And  if  children,  then  heirs ;  heirs  of  God,  and  joint- 
heirs  with  Christ."  "  O,"  said  one  of  the  Malabarian 
converts  appointed  by  the  Danish  missionaries  to  trans- 
late a  catechism,  in  which  believers  are  called  the 
"  sons"  of  God, — "  O  it  is  too  much  !  let  me  rather 
render  it,  '  they  shall  be  permitted  to  kiss  his  feet.' " 
But  no,  it  is  not  too  much  :  "  It  is  just  like  him,"  said 
a  converted  negro  woman,  with  sublime  moral  sim- 
plicity, when  speaking  of  his  unutterable  gift  of  Christ 
for  our  redemption.  Inconceivably  great  as  the  gift  is, 
"  it  is  just  like  him ;"  and  unspeakably  great  as  the 
privilege  is  of  constituting  believers  his  children,  "  it 
is  just  like  him  ;"  it  is  no  figment  of  the  imagination  ; 
the  honour  is  realized  to  the  fullest  extent.  They  are 
renewed  after  his  likeness,  and  by  the  special  opera- 
tion of  his  own  Spirit.  They  are  clothed  with  the 
robes  of  his  righteousness ;  are  sustained  with  manna 
from  heaven,  and  enjoy  the  training  and  tuition  of  a 
Divine  teacher ;  while  every  step  they  take  brings 
them  nearer  to  an  inheritance  worthy  of  those  whom 
he  has  adopted  as  his  children  and  his  heirs.  "  Be- 
loved, now  are  we  the  sons  of  God  ;"  and  when  we 
look  down  to  the  depth  from  which  he  has  raised  us, 
we  may  well  be  astonished  at  the  height  of  our  pres- 
ent elevation  ;  but  when  we  look  up  towards  the  sum- 
mits which  we  are  yet  destined  to  attain,  we  feel  that 
"  it  doth  not  yet  appear  what  we  shall  be."  Great  as 
the  honour  is  which  he  has  already  conferred  upon  us, 
it  is  only  the  beginning,  the  pledge  of  what  he  purposes 


AN   ESSAY.  233 

to  bestow  on  us  in  heaven.  High  as  is  the  exalta- 
tion to  which  he  has  already  raised  us,  we  are  still 
rising,  and  shall  continue  to  ascend,  till  we  have  left 
sin,  and  death,  and  hell  at  an  infinite  depth  below  us, 
and  find  ourselves  placed  at  the  right  hand  of  God. 

Now,  looking  at  the  history  of  this  exaltation,  we 
may  remark  that,  like  that  Divine  condescension  to 
which  it  is  owing,  it  is  marked  by  distinct  and  succes- 
sive stages,  by  which  the  Christian  is  carried  from 
glory  to  glory  till  he  has  reached  the  summit  of  per- 
fect bliss.  What  an  important  moment  in  his  history 
is  that,  when  the  voice  of  God  first  calls  him,  and  in- 
duces him  to  consider  his  ways.  The  period  of  con- 
version comes,  and  he  arrives  at  another  stage :  he 
now  cordially  believes,  and  embraces  the  Gospel ;  his 
sins  are  forgiven ;  he  draws  the  first  breath  of  a  new 
life,  and  aims  at  heaven.  Henceforth,  his  course  may 
be  marked  by  numerous  vicissitudes — but  they  all 
form  so  many  steps,  by  which  he  rises  towards  heaven. 
The  period  of  death  comes,  and  he  arrives  at  another 
and  a  most  important  point — he  escapes  from  the  state 
in  which  he  had  been  walking  by  faith,  and  finds  him- 
self standing  in  the  brightness  of  the  throne  of  God  ; 
he  quits  his  conflicts  and  temptations,  and  finds  himself 
in  a  world  where  all  is  security,  holiness,  and  bliss ; 
he  rises  as  by  one  mighty  bound  from  earth  to  heaven. 
Nor  is  this  the  summit  of  his  dignity.  The  morning 
of  the  resurrection  will  dawn,  and  he  will  reach  a 
higher  point  of  glory  still.  His  body  will  be  raised 
from  the  low  chambers  of  the  grave,  and  be  fashioned 
like  unto  Christ's  glorious  body.  The  hour  of  judg- 
ment will  arrive,  and  constitute  another  stage  in  his 
advancing  career ;  he  will  then  be  acquitted  from  every 
charge,  welcomed  as  an  heir  of  heaven,  and  confirm- 
ed in  his  title  to  eternal  life.  And  do  you  think  that 
even  then  he  will  have  reached  the  limits  of  his  glory  ? 
That  glory  is  an  ocean — and  he  will  only  then  be  just 
launched  forth  on  its  shoreless  expanse.  Even  then 
he  will  be  heard  saying,  as  he  surveys  the  interminable 


234  DIVINE    CONDESCENSION,    ETC. 

prospect  of  blessedness  that  stretches  before  him,  "  it 
doth  not  yet  appear  what  we  shall  be ;  but  this  we 
know,  that  we  are  like  him,  for  now  we  see  him  as  he 
is ;"  and  this  we  believe,  that  in  proportion  to  the 
depth  to  which  he  stooped  in  order  to  raise  us,  in  that 
proportion  will  be  the  height  of  our  exaltation,  for 
ever  advancing  in  endless  progression. 

To  this  advanced  stage  of  their  exaltation,  however, 
Christians  have  not  yet  attained.  Some  of  them  are 
only  just  emerging  into  spiritual  light  and  life  ;  others 
are  in  the  midst  of  their  career  toward  heaven ;  others 
have  just  arrived  at  the  point  at  which  their  spirits  pass 
to  the  throne  of  God ;  and  others  have  long  been  fa- 
miliar with  the  scenes  and  the  society  of  heaven. 
Were  the  operation  of  the  grace  of  God  to  terminate 
at  this  moment,  were  the  affairs  of  his  kingdom  to  be 
wound  up  at  once,  how  astonishing  the  effects  which 
his  condescension  has  already  produced  !  How  many 
has  it  raised  to  the  enjoyment  of  eternal  life  !  What  a 
tide  of  happiness  has  it  poured  through  the  world — 
bearing  on  its  bosom  to  the  haven  of  rest  an  innumer- 
able multitude,  every  one  of  whom  would  else  have 
perished  in  the  blackness  of  darkness  for  ever  !  But 
it  shall  not  cease  to  operate  till  it  has  compassed  the 
salvation  of  all  his  people ;  and  then,  and  not  till  then, 
will  it  be  adequately  appreciated  and  adored.  But 
then,  when  all  the  objects  of  his  love — the  fruits  of  his 
condescension — shall  stand  upon  the  mount  of  God ; 
when  they  shall  look  up  and  gaze  upon  the  glories  of 
him  who  sits  upon  the  throne,  and  then  look  back,  and 
down  upon  the  cross,  and  remember  that  he  once  hung 
upon  it,  and  trace  the  various  stages  through  which  he 
passed  till  he  reached  it,  what  an  amazing  impression 
of  his  condescension  will  they  have,  and  what  a  theme 
for  praise.  And  when  they  shall  contrast  their  divine 
exaltation  with  their  former  depression,  when  they  shall 
find  that  they  are  without  fault  before  the  throne  of 
God,  that  they  are  walking  in  the  society  of  angels, 
are  raised  to  the  enjoyment  of  all  that  heaven  con- 


AN    ESSAY.  •  235 

tains,  and  then  look  down  at  the  state  in  which  his 
condescension  found  them',  and,  still  lower,  at  the  state 
of  perdition  from  which  his  grace  has  saved  them, 
what  a  view  will  they  have  of  their  high  exaltation, 
and  what  a  subject  for  gratitude  to  him  "  who  raiseth 
up  the  needy  out  of  the  dunghill,  that  he  may  set  him 
with  princes,"  even  the  princes  of  heaven. 

But  the  adoration  and  praise  of  heaven  must  begin 
on  earth.  Christians  are  not  strangers  to  these  emo- 
tions now.  It  is  by  these,  and  the  influence  which  these 
have  upon  their  life,  that  they  are  distinguished  from 
an  ungodly  world.  The  Saviour  has  spoken  to  them — 
and  they  have  listened,  wondered,  and  obeyed.  He 
has  raised  them  from  the  dust,  and  they  have  followed 
him.  He  has  shown  them  his  cross,  and  they  feel  that 
they  are  not  their  own.  He  has  pointed  them  to  the 
open  gate  of  heaven,  and  they  are  hastening  and  as- 
cending to  reach  it.  He  has  constituted  them  his 
friends  and  his  children,  and  they  are  advancing  to 
take  possession  of  their  inheritance,  and  to  share  his 
glory. 


A  SEASONABLE  RECOLLECTION. 


"  Remember  Jesus  Christ." 

Mebiory,  like  every  other  endowment,  becomes  valu- 
able only  as  it  is  properly  employed.  In  this  world 
we  are  comparatively  unable  to  appreciate  its  worth. 
Here,  at  most,  it  has  only  the  range  of  a  few  short 
years,  a  large  proportion  of  the  history  of  which  does 
not  deserve  remembrance.  It  is  a  capacity  which 
increases  in  importance  as  the  history  of  our  being 
advances.  What  a  source  of  pleasure  must  memory 
be  to  a  pure  and  happy  being,  who,  by  its  aid,  can  call 
up  the  events  which  have  given  interest  to  ten  thou- 
sand years  !  But  it  may  be  turned  to  the  highest  ac- 
count even  here.  It  is  a  casket ;  and  if  it  contain 
"  the  pearl  of  great  price,"  it  is  sacred,  it  is  rich  in- 
deed. 

In  the  present  state  our  memory  is  weak  and  inca- 
pacious, unable  to  contain  but  a  small  portion  of  the 
innumerable  objects  which  claim  a  place  in  it.  The 
part  of  wisdom,  therefore,  is  to  examine  and  select 
what  should  obtain  the  first  admission,  and  occupy  the 
most  prominent  place  in  it ;  that,  as  all  cannot  be  re- 
membered, trifles  at  least  may  not  be  received  to  the 
exclusion  of  important  objects.  Let  such  an  examina- 
tion be  instituted,  and,  before  and  above  all  things,  we 
shall  remember  Jesus  Christ. 

He  deserves  to  be  remembered  for  the  moral  splen- 
dour of  his  achievements,  in  vanquishing  all  the  ene- 
mies of  human  happiness  ;  for  his  unmerited  kindness 
in  remembering  us  in  our  low  estate  ;  for  the  strength 
and  endurance  of  his  love,  in  continuing  his  regard 
for  us  unabated,  notwithstanding  the.  slights  he  receives 


AN    ESSAY.  237 

at  our  hands,  and  notwithstanding  his  own  personal 
removal  and  exaltation  and  for  the  reward  of  grace 
which  he  promises  to  our  remembrance  of  Him. 
They  that  remember  Him,  he  will  remember.  And, 
oh  !  to  be  remembered  by  Him  would  amply  compen- 
sate for  being  forgotten  by  all  the  universe  besides ! 
The  dying  malefactor  only  asked  the  Kedeemer  to 
remember  him  ;  and  his  humble  request  was  answered 
with  an  assurance  that,  on  that  day  he  should  be  with 
Him  in  paradise. 

Our  remembrance  of  Christ  must  not  be  confined  to 
the  Sabbath,  or  the  hour  of  prayer,  or  the  day  of 
death,  when  no  aid  but  his  can  avail  us.  This  would 
denote  no  great  attachment  to  him ;  this  would  be  re- 
membering him  only  when  we  could  scarcely  forbear 
doing  it — when  even  they  that  hate  him  remember 
him. 

Many  would  have  us  think  about  them,  only  when 
we  ourselves  are  in  prosperity.  If  we  are  in  want, 
they  would  be  pleased  to  find  that  we  had  forgotten 
them,  lest  we  should  importune  or  disgrace  them. 
Not  so  Jesus  Christ ;  he  is  pleased  when  our  trials  in- 
duce us  to  remember  him  :  then  it  is  that  they  answer 
their  appointed  end.  In  the  hour  of  conscious  guilt, 
his  language  is — "  Remember  my  grace  ;  it  will  pre- 
vent despondency,  and  inspire  you  with  hope."  In 
the  time  of  affliction — "  Remember  my  sympathy,  it 
will  heal  the  wounds  of  the  heart."  In  the  season  of 
duty — "  Remember  my  example  ;  like  a  guiding  col- 
umn of  light,  it  will  direct  your  course,  and  quicken 
your  progress."  In  the  prospect  of  death — "  Remem- 
ber that  your  '  Redeemer  liveth,'  and  it  will  convert 
the  chamber  of  sickness  into  the  gate  of  heaven." 

It  is  not  easy  for  a  man  entirely  to  banish  the 
Saviour  from  his  recollections.  Moving,  as  we  are, 
in  a  world  whose  moral  history  is  blended  so  intimate- 
ly with  the  history  of  Christ,  whose  happiness  depends 
on  his  mediation,  and  whose  destiny  will  be  determin- 
ed at  his  tribunal,  we  are  surrounded  by  intimations  of 
his  character  and  presence  :  and  lest  we  should  forget 


238  A    SEASONABLE    RECOLLECTION  : 

him,  he  has  written  his  name  more  or  less  legibly  on 
every  object  in  the  moral  world — has  left  us,  in  a  vari- 
ety of  forms,  and  in  every  direction,  memorials  of  his 
merciful  relations  to  us.  Be  it  understood,  however, 
that  to  remember  him  aright  involves  the  noblest  efforts 
of  the  human  mind.  The  exercise  is  at  once  so  easy, 
that  it  invites  compliance  ;  so  arduous,  that  it  demands 
supreme  attention ;  and  so  indispensable,  that  to  neg- 
lect it  is  to  perish.  It  originates  in  a  scriptural  ac- 
quaintance with  his  character,  and  a  devout  affection 
for  him  ;  it  implies  our  deepest  sympathy  with  all  that 
is  pure  and  lofty ;  it  renders  us  conversant  with  the 
beings  and  pursuits  of  another  world.  To  remember 
him  aright  is  to  remember  his  promises,  and  believe 
them — his  commands,  and  obey  them — his  glory,  and 
to  make  it  the  object  of  our  life. 

There  must  be  an  intenseness  in  our  recollections  of 
him,  which  will  not  merely  place  him  on  an  equality 
in  our  thoughts  with  other  endeared  objects,  but  which 
must  give  him  a  superiority  above  them  all  ; — -a  re- 
membrance which  will  yield  us  pleasure,  which  we 
shall  often  be  disposed  to  indulge  in  as  our  highest 
gratification,  and  which,  instead  of  readily  giving  way 
to  other  recollections,  will  keep  its  place  in  the  mind, 
notwithstanding  all  the  importunate  solicitations  of 
earthly  objects.  If  we  are  not  aiming  at  such  a  re- 
membrance of  Christ,  we  are  recollecting  him  only  as 
a  being  who  deserves  to  be  forgotten ;  but  thus  to 
remember  him  will  impart  a  Divine  character  to  a  hu- 
man mind — will  make  a  sinful  man  a  partaker  of  the 
Divine  nature. 

It  has  been  said  that  a  thought  is  valuable  in  pro- 
portion to  the  number  of  other  thoughts  which  it  nat- 
urally suggests.  Then  how  valuable  is  the  scriptural 
recollection  of  Christ !  connected  as  he  is  with  the 
past,  the  present,  and  the  future,  with  all  that  is  pure 
and  spiritual,  benevolent  and  great.  In  the  universe, 
the  Christian  possesses  in  him  a  memorial  and  repre- 
sentative of  all  that  is  worth  remembering ;  while,  on 
the  other  hand,  every  thought  suggested  by  the  con- 


AN    ESSAY.  239 

templation  of  those  objects  may,  in  its  turn,  become 
the  means  of  recalling  the  Saviour  to  his  mind  ;  and 
thus  there  will  be  an  established  connexion  maintained 
in  the  mind  between  Christ  and  all  that  deserves  to  be 
associated  with  him.  There  will  be  a  system  of  holy 
thoughts  and  recollections,  of  which  Christ  will  be  the 
centre  and  the  soul :  thoughts  which  at  one  time  might 
have  passed  through  the  mind  without  being  detained 
or  cherished,  will  now  find  a  welcome  and  a  home  ; 
and  will  find  it,  simply  because  they  bear  a  relation  to 
him. 

We  listen  with  pleasure  to  the  man  who  can  give 
us  the  least  information  concerning  a  dear  and  distant 
friend ;  and  every  incident  relative  to  Christ  will  be 
welcome  to  the  heart  which  enshrines  him.  Could  we 
look  into  the  memory  thus  consecrated,  and  survey  the 
interior  imagery,  we  might  trace  with  ease  innumera- 
ble associations  sacred  to  him,  mingled,  indeed,  with 
some  of  an  unhallowed  kind ;  for  even  the  temple 
itself  was  not  unvisited  by  idols, 

"  Who  durst  fix  their  seats  next  the  seat  of  God, 
Their  altar  by  his  altar  5  yea,  often  placed 
Within  his  sanctuary  itself  their  shrines. 
Abominations  !" 

But  such  sacrilegious  thoughts  will  not  find  a  welcome, 
or  effect  a  lodgment,  in  a  heart  which  is  thus  sacred 
to  him.  And  this  suggests  the  importance  of  vivid  as 
well  as  frequent  recollections  of  Christ.  If  they  cease 
to  be  vivid,  they  cease  to  exert  a  practical  influence. 
They  mingle  and  pass  through  his  mind  with  other 
thoughts ;  but,  instead  of  controlling  the  man,  they 
are  controlled  by  him  ;  instead  of  imparting  a  religious 
character  to  his  mind,  his  mind  imparts  to  them  its 
own  worldliness.  This  is  the  secret  of  the  religious 
declension  of  many  Christians  from  what  the  Scrip- 
tures designate  their  "  first  love."  Instead  of  remem- 
bering /iim,  they  come  to  be  satisfied  with  merely 
remembering  past  recollections  of  him. 

It  is,  no  doubt,  strange  in  the  estimation  of  the 


240  A    SEASONABLE    RECOLLECTION. 

world,  to  insist  on  the  paramount  importance  of  habit- 
ually remembering  a  Being  so  far  removed  beyond  the 
range  of  our  natural  sympathies  and  associations.  So, 
under  the  former  economy,  the  heathens  were  at  a  loss 
to  conceive  what  could  be  the  object  of  the  Jewish 
worship,  since  the  temple  contained  no  image  of  a 
god  ;  and  when  at  last,  on  the  conquest  of  Jerusalem, 
they  rushed  into  the  "  Holy  of  Holies,"  they  exclaim- 
ed with  amazement,  that  there  was  no  God  !  We  ad- 
mit the  difficulty  of  remembering  an  unseen  Saviour, 
but  affirm  its  practicability,  and  urge  its  importance, 
and  exult  in  the  pleasure  which  its  performance  in- 
volves. 

If  we  desire  to  cherish  the  recollection  of  a  distant 
friend,  in  order  to  prevent  the  possibility  of  long  for- 
getting him,  how  often  do  we  carry  about  with  us 
some  memento  to  awaken  recollections  of  him  !  Now, 
though  the  Christian  does  not  stand  in  need  of  such 
assistance,  yet  whatever  is  calculated  to  bring  the 
Saviour  properly  before  us  should  not  be  despised. 
There  should  be  such  a  sensitiveness  of  feeling  culti- 
vated towards  him,  that  every  thing  we  hear  and  see 
should  have  a  tendency  to  remind  us  of  him.  Our 
sacred  mental  associations  should  be  so  multiplied, 
that  nothing  could  claim  our  attention  without  directly 
or  indirectly  leading  us  to  him ;  that  no  train  of 
thought  could  be  excited  within  us,  without  terminat- 
ing in  thoughts  of  him ;  that  as  the  magnetic  needle 
turns  in  the  direction  of  the  pole,  so,  whatever  our  situ- 
ation, our  hearts,  being  imbued  with  his  love,  might 
spontaneously  and  habitually  turn  to  him. 

Pointing  to  his  sacramental  ordinance,  he  enjoins, 
"  Do  this  in  remembrance  of  me."  The  Christian 
should  do  every  thing  in  remembrance  of  Christ,  and 
thus  convert  life  into  one  sacramental  feast. 


THE  TRUE  KINDRED  OF  CHRIST. 


To  HAVE  seen  a  place  or  a  person  of  eminence,  is  a 
circumstance  on  which  we  are  accustomed  to  reflect 
with  pleasure,  and  which  we  relate  to  others  who  have 
not  enjoyed  the  gratification,  with  a  feeling  of  superiori- 
ty. Had  we  seen  the  Son  of  God — had  we  traced  the 
features  of  his  heavenly  countenance — had  we  listened 
to  the  kind  and  encouraging  tones  of  his  voice — had 
we  heard  him  addressing  the  astonished  and  delighted 
multitude — seen  him  healing  the  sick,  comforting  the 
distressed,  and  raising  the  dead — had  we  gazed  on  his 
sacred  person  after  his  own  resurrection  from  the  dead 
— how  often  should  we  have  been  heard  reverting  to 
the  fact — reverting  to  it  as  the  most  interesting  part  of 
our  history — and  perhaps  claiming  to  ourselves  a  degree 
of  credit  and  authority  on  account  of  it.  Thus,  when 
the  apostle  Peter  was  exhorting  the  elders  of  the  Chris- 
tian church,  he  claimed  to  be  heard,  not  only  because 
he  himself  was  an  elder,  but  also  because  he  had  been 
"  a  witness  of  the  sufferings  of  Christ."  And  our 
Lord  himself  declares  that,  in  the  last  day,  many  will 
claim  admission  into  heaven,  partly  because  they  have 
eaten  and  drunk  in  his  presence,  and  had  seen  him  teach 
in  their  streets. 

Had  we  not  only  seen  him,  but  had  we  been  also  on 
terms  of  friendship  with  him — had  he  taken  us  with 
him  when  he  left  the  multitude,  and  explained  to  us  his 
public  discourses,  and  admitted  us  to  familiar  inter- 
course, and  even  permitted  us  to  recline  on  his  bosom, 
how  distinguished  would  have  been  the  honour,  and 
how  many  would  have  envied  us  its  possession. 

But  still  more — had  we  been  related  to  Christ  ac- 
cording to  the  flesh,  how  much  greater  the  distinction 
.16 


242       THE  TRUE  KINDRED  OF  CHRIST  ." 

Still.  Many  employ  their  time  and  their  wealth  in 
tracing  back  their  pedigree  to  the  great  and  mighty  of 
the  earth  ;  they  value  an  exalted  ancestry  even  more 
than  an  honourable  character ;  and  if  they  can  but 
establish  a  remote  and  doubtful  alliance  to  it,  they  make 
it  their  boast  and  their  glory.  But  if  it  be  an  honour 
to  be  allied  to  any  earthly  dignity — to  any  one  to  v^hom 
man  has  given  a  title — then  who  can  estimate  the  dis- 
tinction of  being  related  to  Him  who  is  the  great  foun- 
tain of  all  the  honour  and  authority  in  the  universe  ? 
If  it  be  an  honour  to  be  related  to  the  wise — in  him 
are  hid  all  the  treasures  of  wisdom  and  knowledge  ; 
every  sentence  he  uttered  was  a  revelation ;  and  he 
has  given  to  us  the  key  of  the  knowledge  which  opens 
heaven  and  leads  to  eternal  life.  If  it  be  an  honour  to 
be  allied  to  the  rich — he  is  the  heir  of  all  things  : — or 
to  be  related  to  the  conquerors  of  the  earth — he  is  the 
conqueror  of  sin,  and  deaths  and  hell.  And  hence  the 
apostle  Paul,  when  enumerating  the  peculiar  distinc- 
tions of  the  Jewish  nation,  describes  it  as  one,  that 
Christ  was  born  of  it :  "  Whose  are  the  fathers  ;  and 
of  whom,  as  concerning  the  flesh-,  Christ  came,  who 
is  over  all,  God  blessed  for  ever." 

But,  on  a  certain  occasion,  the  Saviour  declared  that 
there  is  an  honour  greater  than  that  of  having  seen  him 
— of  having  been  admitted  to  occasional  intercourse 
with  him — or  of  even  having  been  related  to  him  by 
the  ties  of  human  consanguinity — namely,  the  honour 
of  a  spiritual  relationship.  The  union  to  him  which 
originates  in  faith,  is  cemented  by  love,  and  which 
leads  to  a  life  of  holy  obedience,  is  an*  honour  which 
swallows  up  every  other  distinction,  and  which  puts 
the  believer  into  the  possession  of  all  he  can  desire  or 
enjoy.  "  Jesus  stretched  forth  his  hand  towards  his 
disciples,  and  said.  Behold  my  mother  and  my  breth- 
ren. For  whosoever  shall  do  the  will  of  my  Father, 
who  is  in  heaven,  the  same  is  my  brother,  and  sister, 
and  mother." 

Here,  our  Lord  describes  the  man  who  is  most  nearly 
related  to  him.     When  a  person  of  property  dies  in- 


AN    ESSAY.  243 

testate,  it  is  considered  a  point  of  great  importance  to 
determine^vvho  is  the  nearest  of  kin — who  has  the  first 
and  the  strongest  claim  to  the  property  of  the  deceased. 
But  the  question  here  pending  is, — who  is  the  most 
nearly  related  to  Christ  ?  because  to  him  devolves 
spiritual  wealth  and  honours  beyond  all  computation. 
Guided  by  the  language  we  have  just  quoted,  the  ques- 
tion admits  of  an  easy  solution.  The  happy  individual 
may  be  found  in  a  palace,  or  in  a  hovel — pining  in 
poverty,  or  rolling  in  affluence — lying  in  the  depths  of 
obscurity,  or  standing  on  the  pinnacle  of  fame — desti- 
tute of  learning,  or  sitting  in  the  chair  of  philosophy 
and  wisdom ;  his  ancestry,  age,  and  external  circum- 
stances, are  altogether  unimportant ; — but,  wherever 
he  is  to  be  found,  he  is  distinguished  by  doing  the  will 
of  God.  This  is  his  proprium — his  distinctive  badge. 
He  avails  himself  of  every  opportunity  which  he  en- 
joys of  learning  that  will.  As  far  as  he  understands 
it,  he  loves  it ;  and  loves  the  Saviour  for  having  reveal- 
ed it.  He  is  conscientiously  earnest  in  obeying  it,  how- 
ever humbling  the  doctrines  which  it  requires  him  to  be- 
lieve, and  however  difficult  the  duties  which  it  calls 
him  to  perform ;  he  counts  its  his  meat  to  do  the  will 
of  his  Father  who  is  in  heaven.  He  knows  no  other 
rule  to  walk  by  than  the  word  of  God — no  other  end 
to  aim  at  than  the  glory  of  God.  And,  this  being  his 
character,  he  is  related  to  Christ.  He  is  moving  in  a 
line  with  Christ ;  and  tending,  though  not  with  equal 
steps,  to  the  same  celestial  goal.  He  has  been  born 
into  the  same  family — partakes  of  the  same  spiritual 
nature — and,  as  an  heir  of  God,  he  is  said  to  be  a  joint- 
heir  with  Christ.  However  obscure,  therefore,  the 
station  he  may  occupy — whatever  the  country  which 
gave  him  birth — and  whatever  the  circumstances  which 
may  combine  to  depress  him — all  such  considerations 
are  merged  and  lost  sight  of  in  that  greatest  of  all 
distinctions,  that  he  does  the  loill  of  God  ; — while  the 
Saviour  extends  his  hands  towards  him,  and  says.  Be- 
hold my  mother.,  and  sister.,  and  brother. 

Here,  too,  we  learn  the  superiority  of  this  relation- 


244  THE    TRUE    KINDRED    OF    CHRIST  t 

ship  to  Christ  to  every  other.  It  is  more  vital ;— by 
which  we  mean,  that  it  is  more  essential  to  8ur  spiritual 
life  than  our  natural  ties  are  to  our  natural  life.  The 
rupture  of  the  latter  we  may  survive ;  but  Christ  is 
our  life,  and  were  it  possible  for  the  ties  which  bind  us 
to  him  to  be  broken  asunder — though  we  might  live  on 
as  men,  as  Christians  we  should  perish. 

It  is  more  dignified  than  any  earthly  relationship. 
It  allies  us  to  the  throne  of  God — to  the  royalty  of 
heaven — to  dignities  which  will  survive  the  wreck  of 
all  things  earthly,  and  live  on  when  time  shall  be  no 
more.  By  our  kindred  to  him,  our  weakness  becomes 
linked  to  Almighty  strength,  and  our  exigence  to  Divine 
all-sufficiency.  We  become  entitled  to  share  in  all  his 
possessions  and  glories. 

This  union  is  more  tender  than  any  earthly  connex- 
ion.    The  language  of  Christ  on  this  point  is  remark- 
able ;  he  does  not  say,  "  the  same  is  my  brother,  or  , 
sister,  or  mother  ;"  but,  "  the  same  is  my  brother,  and 
sister,   and  mother.     He   is  bound  to  me  by  a  tie  so 
tender   and  intimate,  that  it  includes  all  relations  in 
one.     I  feel  for  my  obedient  followers  all  the  tender- 
ness due  to  a  mother — all  the  kindness  and   generous 
regard  a  man  would  feel  towards  his  own  sister — and 
all  the  faithful  friendship  due  to  an  affectionate  broth- 
er.*"    Whatever  there  is  peculiar  in  the  affection  or,, 
regard  of  the    different  endeared  relations  of  life,  all"; 
centres  in  the  love  of  Jesus  to  his  sincere  disciples. 

And  this  union  is  more  enduring  than  any  earthly 
connexion.  Mere  human  relationships  are  daily  break- 
ing up.  Whole  families,  with  every  branch  belonging 
to  them,  have  entirely  disappeared.  How  probable  is 
it  that  the  family  from  which  our  Lord  himself  de- 
scended, in  his  human  nature,  is  now  entirely  extinct. 
But  the  relation  which  subsisted  between  him  and  his 
primitive  disciples  is  not  extinct :  he  can  now  point 
them  out  in  the  ranks  of  the  blessed  above,  and  say, 
Behold  my  mother  and  my  brethren.  And  when  every 
earthly  tie  shall  be  dissolved — when  he  shall  come  to 
receive   his  people   to   himself — he  declares  that  he 


AN   ESSAY.  245 

will  recognize  and  acknowledge  them  all  as  his  breth- 
ren, his  true  and  only  kindred  :  for  he  will  say  to  such 
as  have  cherished  a  benevolent  and  fraternal  spirit 
towards  his  followers,  "  inasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it 
unto  one  of  the  least  of  these  my  brethren^  ye  did  it 
unto  me."  He  will  look  around  on  the  assembled 
world,  as  he  once  did  on  his  assembled  hearers,  and, 
extending  his  hand  towards  them,  will  draw  on  them 
the  admiring  regards  of  the  universe,  by  saying.  Be- 
hold my  mother  and  my  brethren.  And,  oh,  who  would 
not  in  that  day  gladly  disclaim  relationship  to  the 
noble  and  mighty  of  the  earth,  rather  than  be  destitute 
of  relationship  to  Christ !  Who  among  the  proudest 
and  the  loftiest  will  not  then  wish  that  he  had  claimed 
kindred  with  the  dust  which  he  almost  disdained  to 
tread — that  he  had  said  "  to  corruption,  '  Thou  art  my 
mother,'  and  to  the  worm,  '  Thou  art  my  sister' " — 
rather  than  be  destitute  of  relationship  to  Christ  ?  Who 
among  the  dispisers  and  persecutors  of  the  saints  will 
not  deplore  their  folly,  and  envy  the  faithful  the  rela- 
tionship which  binds  them  to  Christ  ?  Every  other  con- 
nexion will  then  have  melted  away  before  the  fires  of 
the  last  day — the  golden  chain  which  binds  his  people 
to  himself  will  be  the  only  remaining  bond — and  that 
shall  remain  for  ever  ;  for,  saith  he,  "  because  I  live, 
ye  shall  live  also." 

How  utterly  insufficient  is  every  other  relationship 
to  Christ  than  that  which  arises  from  faith^  and  love^ 
and  holy  obedience  !  How  little  has  it  availed  the 
Jews  that  they  are  related  to  Christ  by  the  ties  of 
country  :  and  as  little  will  it  avail  them  in  the  last  day, 
when  the  nations  shall  be  seen  coming  from  the  east 
and  from  the  west,  from  the  north  and  from  the  south, 
to  sit  down  with  the  patriarchs  in  the  kingdom  of  God, 
and  they  themselves  shall  be  cast  out.  How  little  will 
it  av^  those  who  enjoyed  the  personal  ministry  of 
Christ— -or  those  who  performed  miracles  in  his  name 
— to  plead  their  peculiar  privileges,  when  he  shall  say 
to  them,  "  Depart  from  me,  ye  workers  of  iniquity,  I 
never  knew^  you."     And  as  useless  will  it  be  for  one 


246  THE    TRUE    KINDRED    OF    CHRIST. 

nominal  Christian  to  plead  that  he  occupied  a  high  sta- 
tion in  the  church — and  another  that  he  maintained  a 
profession  of  religion — and  a  third  that  he  was  born  of 
a  pious  ancestry — and  a  fourth  that  he  gave  even  his 
body  to  be  burned  as  a  martyr  to  religion.  If  they 
were  not  his  humble  and  sincere  followers,  he  would 
say  to  each  of  them,  as  the  Almighty  is  represented 
saying  of  one  of  old,  "  Though  this  man  were  the 
signet  on  my  right  hand,  I  would  pluck  him  off  and 
cast  him  away."  The  salvation  of  our  Lord's  breth- 
ren— the  salvation  of  the  virgin  mother  herself — arose 
not  from  the  alliance  of  blood,  but  from  sincerely  be- 
lieving in  his  name.  Nothing,  nothing  short  of  a 
Divine  and  scriptural  relationship  to  Christ  will  ever 
entitle  us  to  the  joys  of  heaven.  But,  possessed  of 
this,  let  the  Christian  rejoice  in  the  assurance  that  the 
hand  which  unites  every  other  bond,  shall  only  draw 
the  principle  which  binds  him  to  Christ  closer  than  ever^ 
and  render  it  indissoluble. 


INTERCESSORY  PRAYER. 


The  effectual  fervent  prayer  of  a  righteous  man  availeth  much. 

James. 

All  who  have  made  pretensions  to  religion,  have  uni- 
formly assigned  a  distinguished  place  to  the  exercise 
and  efficacy  of  prayer ;  and  even  they  who  have 
practically  renounced  religion,  are  generally  found,  in 
the  hour  of  suffering  or  danger,  to  make  an  involuntary 
effort  to  call  on  the  name  of  the  Lord.  The  voice  of 
nature,  at  such  periods,  overpowering  the  prejudice  of 
irreligion,  which  had  hitherto  silenced  it,  asserts  the 
presence,  the  power,  and  the  goodness  of  God,  and 
invokes  his  favourable  interposition.  But  the  Christian, 
taught  by  that  Being  who  is  at  once  the  great  Object 
and  Spirit  of  prayer,  avails  himself  of  this  holy  exer- 
cise as  of  the  richest  privilege ;  not  that  he  is  always 
equally  disposed  to  engage  in  it,  but,  having  acquired 
this  habit,  and  enjoyed  the  advantage  of  prayer,  he 
can  never  allow  himself  to  regard  it  merely  in  the 
light  of  an  arbitrary  duty,  dangerous  to  be  neglected, 
and,  therefore,  necessary  to  be  performed.  It  is  his 
meat  and  his  drink,  the  aliment  which  sustains  and  in- 
vigorates his  spiritual  life  ;  he  values  it  as  the  only 
channel  of  communication  with  his  unseen  and  almighty 
Friend ;  he  regards  it  as  the  instrument  which  allies 
his  weakness  to  the  power  of  God,  and  his  emptiness 
and  unworthiness  to  the  grace  that  is  in  Christ  Jesus. 
The  Scriptures  reveal  the  character  of  a  Being  who  is 
infinite  in  wisdom,  unchangeable  in  truth,  and  unlimited 
in  power  and  benevolence.  Prayer  allies  the  believer 
to  all  these  perfections,  and  makes  them  all  virtually 
his  own.  They  lay  open  to  his  view  the  economy  of 
redemption,  with  all  its  blessings  of  pardon,  adoption,- 


248  INTERCESSORY   PRAYER  : 

and  complete  preparation  for  heaven.  By  prayer,  the 
believer  appropriates  all  these  blessings  to  himself; 
they  tell  him  of  a  world  where  all  is  pure,  and  glorious, 
and  happy ;  he  prays,  and  becomes  entitled  to  it,  pre- 
pared for  it,  and  soon  receives  the  call  to  enter  on  its 
richest  joys. 

Nor  is  the  efficacy  of  prayer  confined  to  the  believer 
himself :  it  places  him  in  a  new  relation  to  all  around 
him.  He  was  needy  and  helpless,  and  unable  to  take 
a  single  step  toward  the  accomplishment  of  his  own 
salvation ;  but  having  acquired  the  habit  of  prayer,  he 
can  contribute  largely  toward  the  salvation  of  others. 
It  is  an  invisible  cord  by  which  he  can  draw  them  to- 
ward heaven ;  it  invests  him  with  an  indefinite  power 
over  the  destiny  and  happiness  of  the  world  at  large. 

It  is  of  intercessory  prayer  that  the  apostle  speaks — ■• 
"  confess  your  faults  one  to  another,  and  pray  one  for 
another,  that  you  may  be  healed.  The  effectual  fervent 
prayer  of  a  righteous  man  availeth  much."  And  hav- 
ing illustrated  the  truth  of  this  declaration,  by  referring 
to  the  prayers  of  Elijah,  he  concludes  the  epistle  by 
saying,  "  Brethren,  if  any  of  you  do  err  from  the  truth, 
and  one  convert  him,  let  him  know  that  he  who  con- 
verteth  the  sinner  from  the  error  of  his  ways  shall  save 
a  soul  from  death,  and  shall  hide  a  multitude  of  sins  ;" 
thus  intimating  that  the  salvation  of  a  sinner,  and  even, 
of  an  apostate,  the  most  hopeless  of  sinners,  is  quite 
within  the  limits  of  prayer,  and  may  be  effected  by  it. 

The  text  describes  the  character  and  efficacy  of 
genuine  prayer. 

It  describes  the  character  of  prayer.  It  is  inwrought 
by  the  energy  of  the  Spirit.  This  is  a  characteristic 
of  prayer  suggested  by  the  text ;  and  most  abundantly 
is  it  confirmed  by  the  universal  experience  of  believers 
and  the  testimony  of  the  word  of  God  : — "  Likewise 
the  Spirit  also  helpeth  our  infirmities ;  for  we  know 
not  what  we  shall  pray  for  as  we  ought ;  but  the  Spirit 
itself  maketh  intercession  for  us  with  groaning  that 
cannot  be  uttered  ;  and  he  that  searcheth  the  hearts 
knoweth  what  is  the  mind  of  the  Spirit,  because  he 


AN   ESSAY.  249: 

maketh  intercession  for  the  saints  according  to  the  will 
of  God." 

He  makes  the  believer  a  temple  of  the  Lord,  and 
graciously  takes  upon  himself  the  office  of  conducting 
the  worship  of  this  temple ;  he  becomes  the  High- 
priest  and  Intercessor ;  he  prepares  and  presents  to 
God  the  welcome  sacrifice  of  a  broken  and  contrite 
heart ;  he  calls  the  affections  and  desires  of  the  soul 
away  from  the  world,  and  brings  them,  like  a  company 
of  humble  worshippers,  to  the  throne  of  God,  and  con- 
strains all  that  is  within  the  soul  to  bless  his  holy  name. 
He  regulates  and  purifies  the  affections  and  desires  ;  so 
that,  when  the  believer  gives  utterance  to  them,  the 
almighty  Father  regards  them  as  the  urgent  desires  of 
his  own  Spirit.  Or  should  the  believer  be  unable  to 
give  full  utterance  to  his  desires  ;  should  he  only  be: 
able  to  express  them  in  sighs,  and  tears,  and  groans,  he 
that  searcheth  the  heart  knoweth  what  is  the  mind  of 
the  Spirit ;  he  that  is  always  looking  into  the  hearts  of 
men,  detecting  all  that  is  evil,  and  discerning  and  ap- 
proving all  that  is  good, — he  knows,  from  the  peculiar 
state  of  the  mind,  though  no  intelligible  words  have* 
been  uttered,  that  his  Spirit  has  been  operating  there  ;; 
he  reads  every  thought,  understands  every  desire,  and 
recognizes,  with  perfect  ease,  that  these  thoughts  and 
desires  are  the  well  known  operations  of  his  Spirit ; 
they  perfectly  coincide  with  his  own  divine  will,  and 
he  therefore  gratifies  these  desires  and  fulfils  his  owa 
will  at  the  same  time.  Now  it  is  only  the  utterance 
of  such  desires  that  can  be  regarded  as  genuine  prayer  ; 
it  is  only  such  as  have  been  excited  and  presented  by 
the  great  Intercessor  within  us,  that  the  Almighty  does 
or  can  regard.  These  alone,  as  they  arise  from  a  senses 
of  need,  and  of  the  magnitude  of  the  blessings  sought, 
will  be  expressed  and  urged  with  becoming  earnest- 
ness. We  are  naturally  in  the  condition  of  Elijah 
when  his  altar  and  offering  were  immersed  in  water ; 
the  fire  of  heaven  must  descend,  or  we  shall  thus  re- 
main immersed. 

It  is  only  in  proportion  as  the  Spirit  puts  forth  his 


250  INTERCESSORY   PRAYER  : 

energy  within  us,  that  we  put  forth  our  energy  at  the 
throne  of  grace,  and  present  the  inwrought  fervent 
prayer  of  a  righteous  man. 

When  the  apostle  declares  that  the  prayer  of  this 
description  availeth  much,  he  states  the  efficacy  of 
prayer.  Like  every  other  means,  prayer  depends,  for 
its  efficacy,  on  the  sovereign  appointment  of  God  ;  but 
in  the  whole  compass  of  divinely  appointed  means, 
prayer  occupies  the  highest  place,  and  possesses  the 
mightiest  efficacy.  Passing  by  all  inferior  objects,  all 
created  agency,  it  makes  a  direct  appeal  to  the  throne 
of  God  ;  and  it  appeals  to  him  in  a  manner  and  through 
a  medium  which  has  never  failed — in  the  name  and 
for  the  sake  of  his  only  begotten  Son.  It  enables  the 
believer  to  take  hold  of  his  almighty  strength  ;  it  iden- 
tifies him  with  the  Almighty  ;  and  so  closely  indentifies 
him,  that  the  voice  of  God  declares,  "  He  that  toucheth 
you,  toucheth  the  apple  of  mine  eye  :"  it  gives  him 
immediate  access  to  the  treasury  of  the  divine  benevo- 
lence, so  that,  even  in  this  world  of  danger  and  sin,  he 
can  not  only  ward  off  and  suspend  around  him  every 
.  evil,  but  he  can  encompass  himself  with  every  good, 
as  though  he  possessed  an  omnipotent  charm  ;  he  can 
create  around  him  an  atmosphere  of  joy  and  happi- 
ness ;  it  gives  him  access  to  the  armoury  of  God,  and 
to  all  his  resources  of  strength  ;  so  that,  like  the  angel 
who  had  the  key  of  the  bottomless  pit  and  a  great 
chain  in  his  hand,  he  can  fetter  the  operations  and  re- 
strain the  power  of  the  prince  of  darkness,  or  he  can 
enter  the  field  of  conflict  and  overpower  him.  It  has 
been  said  that  the  smallest  pebble  cannot  be  thrown 
into  the  sea  from  our  shores  without  producing  some 
effect  on  the  other  side  of  the  great  Atlantic  ;  but  with- 
out waiting  to  examine  the  correctness  of  this  asser- 
tion, it  is  only  sober  and  undeniable  truth  to  assert,  that 
the  humblest  Christian  cannot  offer  a  single  breath  in 
prayer,  which  does  not  reach  the  throne  of  God,  and 
become  productive  of  effects  which  spread  through 
the  universe. .  "  If  ye  abide  in  me,"  said  Jesus,  "  and 
my  words  'abide  in  you,  ye  shall  ask  what  ye  will,  and 


AN    ESSAY.  251 

it  shall  be  done  unto  you."  Here  is  an  unlimited 
promise  ;  and  it  cannot  be  pleaded  in  faith  without  pro- 
ducing unlimited  effects. 

But  the  text  directs  our  attention  particularly  to  the 
efficacy  of  intercessory  prayer.  And  here  we  are  at 
once  reminded  of  the  numerous  instances  of  its  power, 
recorded,  doubtless  for  our  encouragement,  in  the  word 
of  God.  Sodom  and  the  cities  of  the  plain  are  to  be 
burnt  from  the  face  of  the  earth  ;  but  what  is  it  which 
for  a  time  delays  their  doom,  and  gives  them,  humanly 
speaking,  a  probability  of  escape  }  It  is  the  interces- 
sion of  Abraham  pleading  with  God,  that  fifty,  or  forty, 
or  thirty,  or  twenty,  or,  at  least,  that  ten  righteous  men 
might  be  found  there.  The  Israelites  have  made  a  mol- 
ten image  at  the  foot  of  the  very  mount  on  which  the 
glory  of  God  has  descended.  "  And  the  Lord  said 
unto  Moses,  I  have  seen  this  people,  and  behold  it  is  a 
stiff*- necked  people  ;  now,  therefore,  let  me  alone,  that 
my  wrath  may  wax  hot  against  them,  that  I  may  con- 
sume them."  And  what  could  allay,  at  this  fearful 
moment,  the  fierceness  of  his  anger  ?  What  could 
restrain  him  from  destroying  them  with  the  breath  of 
his  nostrils  }  The  fervent,  the  impassioned  intercession 
of  Moses.  It  held  back  his  uplifted  arm  ;  it  changed  the 
purpose  of  his  heart ;  "  and  the  Lord  repented  of  the 
evil  which  he  thought  to  do  to  his  people."  Again  they 
incurred  his  displeasure  by  their  rebellious  discontent ; 
"  and  the  fire  of  the  Lord  burnt  among  them,  and  con- 
sumed them ;  and  the  people  cried  unto  Moses,  and, 
when  Moses  prayed  unto  the  Lord,  the  fire  was 
quenched." 

Again  they  revolt,  and  murmur  against  the  Lord ; 
and  he  said  unto  Moses,  "  How  long  will  this  people 
provoke  me  ?  I  will  smite  them  with  the  pestilence, 
and  disinherit  them,  and  will  make  of  thee  a  greater  na- 
tion, and  mightier  than  they."  But  again  this  interces- 
sor prayed  for  them  ;  and  the  Lord  said,  "  I  have  par- 
doned them  according  to  thy  word."  "  Elias  was  a 
man  subject  to  like  passions  as  we  are  ;  and  he  prayed 
earnestly  that  it  might  not  rain,  and  it  rained  not  on 


252  INTERCESSORY   PRAYER  I 

the  earth  for  the  space  of  three  years  and  six  months  ; 
and  he  prayed  again,  and  the  heaven  gave  rain,  and 
the  earth  brought  forth  fruit." 

Prayer  has  suspended  and  controlled  the  elements 
and  operations  of  nature ;  it  has  procured  the  minis- 
try of  angels  ;  it  has  quenched  the  violence  of  fire 
that  came  forth  from  the  Lord  ;  it  has  arrested  the 
progress  of  Almighty  displeasure  ;  like  the  great  Object 
to  whom  it  is  addressed,  it  operates  silently  and  unseen, 
but  irresistibly  and  universally.  It  has  proved  its  un- 
limited efficacy  in  turning  the  sinner  from  the  error  of 
his  ways,  and  saving  a  soul  from  death.  This  is  the 
greatest,  the  most  glorious  triumph  which  it  can 
achieve.  It  has  raised  tbe  dead  in  sin,  and  brought 
the  light  of  heaven  into  the  benighted  soul,  and  sub- 
dued the  enmity  and  hostility  with  which  it  was  armed  ; 
it  has  arrested  the  sinner  at  the  gates  of  hell,  trans- 
formed him,  and  lifted  him  up  to  the  joys  of  heaven ; 
it  has  saved  his  soul  from  death :  and  who,  that  has 
not  looked  into  the  region  of  perdition,  that  has  not  felt 
the  gnawing  of  the  undying  worm,  and  the  raging  of 
the  quenchless  fire,  can  tell  the  meaning  of  that  ex- 
pression ? '  It  has  instrumentally  raised  him  to  the  en- 
joyment of  heaven  :  and  who,  that  has  not  been  caught 
up  to  the  third  heaven,  and  beheld  the  unveiled  glory 
of  the  Lamb,  and  heard  the  hymnings  of  the  blessed, 
and  drank  of  the  river  of  the  water  of  life,  can  esti- 
mate fitly  the  import  of  that  .expression  ? 

But  this  is  not  all  that  intercessory  prayer  could 
effect ; — its  full  efficacy  is  unknown  ;  for  it  has  never 
been  tried.  Like  the  elements  of  nature,  it  contains  a 
power  which,  if  put  forth  to  the  utmost,  would  infalli- 
bly change  the  face  of  the  earth  :  and  the  day  is  has- 
tening on,  when  its  efficacy  shall  be  tried  on  a  scale 
before  unknown ;  for  all  flesh  shall  come  to  pray 
before  the  Lord ;  and  it  shall  then  be  found,  that  to 
pray  is  to  use  the  mightiest  instrument  for  the  conver- 
sion of  the  world. 

Let  us  not  be  deterred  from  trying  the  efficacy  of 
intercessory  prayer  by  the  fear  of  failure.     Our  sue- 


AN    ESSAY.  253 

cess  may  not  equal  our  desires ;  but  let  us  impress  it 
on  our  minds,  that  our  prayer,  if  earnest  and  importu- 
nate, availeth  much.  It  may  not  procure  for  the  ob- 
ject of  our  solicitude  the  desired  good  ;  but  it  may 
avert  from  him  numerous  evils ;  and,  if  so,  it  availeth 
much.  It  may  not  avail  him  so  soon  as  our  impatience 
would  dictate  ;  but,  finally,  it  will  avail,  and  avail  him 
much.  It  will  avail  him  more  than  any  other  means 
or  instrument  we  can  employ  in  his  behalf.  Yes,  let 
it  encourage  us  to  persevere  in  prayer,  when  we  reflect 
that,  of  all  the  instruments  with  which  God  has  en- 
trusted us  for  the  benefit  of  the  world,  prayer  is  incom- 
parably the  most  efficacious.  "  The  eflfectual  fervent 
prayer  of  a  righteous  man  availeth  much  ;"  how  much, 
the  day  of  judgment  alone  can  fully  disclose. 


CHRISTIANITY  NO  PERSECUTOR. 


The  ecclesiastical  bigotry  and  persecution  by  which 
the  history  of  the  Christian  church  is  disgraced,  consti- 
tutes the  source  whence  the  sceptic  derives  his 
strongest  objection  to  Christianity,  and  forms,  accord- 
ing to  his  insinuation,  the  sum  and  substance  of  its 
annals.  Having  gratuitously  asserted,  and  ostenta- 
tiously displayed,  the  mild  and  tolerant  nature  of  ancient 
heathenism,  he  places  it  in  invidious  contrast  with  the 
contentions  and  persecutions  which  from  age  to  age 
have  stained  the  Christian  name ;  and  then  proclaims, 
as  by  sound  of  trumpet,  the  superior  spirit  of  the  for- 
mer, and  denounces  the  latter  as  a  convicted  criminal 
and  a  curse. 

Now,  as  this  is  the  chief,  if  not  even  the  only  point 
of  superiority  to  the  Gospel  which  the  advocates  of 
ancient  polytheism  claim  for  it,  as  the  impression  of  its 
truth,  by  incessant  repetition,  is  so  general  that  even 
a  Bacon  is  found  unguardedly  stating  that  "  the  quar- 
rels and  division  about  religion  were  evils  unknown  to 
the  heathen,"  and  as  the  supposed  tendency  of  the 
Gospel  to  produce  dissensions  has  created  perhaps 
stronger  prejudices  against  it  than  all  the  other  cavils 
of  infidelity  combined,  we  propose  to  offer  a  few 
warning  and  corrective  remarks. 

1.  Even  allowing  that  the  theory  of  the  tolerant 
spirit  of  ancient  heathenism  had  ever  been  carried  into 
practice,  it  could  not  have  been  accounted  a  virtue. 
For  if  polytheism  allowed  the  unlimited  reception  of 
new  divinities,  the  admission  of  an  additional  god  to  the 
Olympian  synod  was  not  the  tolerance  of  a  new  relig- 
ion, but  only  a  step  towards  the  completion  of  that 
which   already   existed.      Nor  was  there  any   more 


AN    ESSAY.  255 

ground  for  praise  in  such  admission  than  there  is  in  the 
church  of  Rome  on  the  canonization  of  a  saint,  or  in 
the  official  act  of  registering  a  birth. 

2.  But  the  plausible  theory  of  the  tolerant  spirit  of 
paganism  is  never  known  to  have  been  realised  in 
practice.  The  Athenians  allowed  no  alteration 
v^hatever  in  the  religion  of  their  ancestors ;  and  the 
lives  of  -^schylus,  Anaxagoras,  Diagoras,  Protagoras, 
Prodicus,  Socrates,  and  Alcibiades,  decided  that  inno- 
vation in  religion  was  death.  The  holy  or  sacred 
wars  among  the  Grecian  states — the  sanguinary  con- 
tests between  the  respective  votaries  of  the  different 
gods  of  Egypt — and  the  cruel  extermination  of  the 
disciples  of  every  other  religion  except  that  of  Zoroas- 
ter, in  Persia,  conspire  to  prove  that  bigotry  is  pecul- 
iar to  no  clime,  but  is  indigenous  to  our  fallen  na- 
ture. As  to  the  vaunted  toleration  of  the  Roman  gov- 
ernment, we  learn  from  Livy  that  about  430  years  be- 
fore Christ,  orders  were  given  to  the  iEdiles  to  see 
"  that  none  except  Roman  gods  were  worshipped,  nor 
in  any  other  than  the  established  forms :"  and  that 
about  200  years  after  this  edict  another  was  published, 
to  crush  certain  rites  which  were  obtaining  in  the  city, 
and  which  enacted  "  that  no  one  shall  sacrifice  on  pub- 
lic or  sacred  ground  after  new  or  foreign  rites."  In- 
deed the  same  historian  informs  us,  (b.  xxxix.  c.  16,) 
that  it  had  been  customary,  in  all  the  early  ages  of  the 
republic,  to  empower  the  magistrates  "  to  prevent  all 
foreign  worship,  to  expel  its  ministers  from  the  forum, 
the  circus,  and  the  city,  to  search  for  and  burn  the 
religious  books,  and  to  abolish  every  form  of  sacrifice 
except  the  national  and  established  form."  Valerius 
Maximus  confirms  the  testimony  of  Livy,  and  records 
the  jealousy  with  which  all  foreign  religions  were  pro- 
hibited by  the  Roman  republic.  Dio  Cassius  attests 
that  the  emperors  pursued  the  same  policy.  Maximus 
earnestly  exhorted  Augustus  "  to  hate  and  punish"  all 
foreign  religions,  and  to  compel  all  men  to  conform  to 
the  national  worship.  Augustus  and  his  successors 
literally  obeyed  the  exhortation.     Tiberius  prohibited 


256  CHRISTIA.NITY    NO    PERSECUTOR: 

the  Egyptian  worship,  banished  the  Jews  from  Rome, 
and  restrained  the  worship  of  the  Druids  in  Gaul. 
Domitian  and  Vespasian  banished  the  philosophers  from 
Rome,  some  of  whom  were  confined  in  the  islands, 
and  others  put  to  death.  From  all  of  which  it  would 
appear  that  intolerance  was  an  original  law  of  Rome, 
that  this  law  was  never  repealed,  and  that  from  time  to 
time  it  was  let  loose  on  the  professors  of  other  relig- 
ions with  terrible  effect.  While  the  history  of  France, 
during  the  revolution,  proclaims  that  hot  as  are  the 
fires  of  persecution  which  Paganism  has  often  kindled. 
Atheism  has  a  furnace  capable  of  being  heated  "  seven 
times  hotter ;"  that  intolerance  is  inherent  in  our  sinful 
nature. 

3.  Not  only  did  persecution  exist  prior  to  the  intro- 
duction of  Christianity,  it  employed  its  utmost  power 
for  the  extinction  of  the  Gospel.  "  The  dragon  stood 
to  devour  the  child  as  soon  as  it  was  born."  The  in- 
fant church  was  cradled  in  suffering ;  its  champions 
were  covered  with  the  scars  of  conflict ;  its  members 
dated  from  their  persecutions.  All  the  instruments  of 
suffering  were  prepared — all  the  varied  apparatus  of 
torture  and  death  were  brought  out  and  arrayed  in  its 
path  to  arrest  its  progress,  and  drive  it  from  the  earth. 
Philosophy,  descending  from  that  lofty  contempt  with 
which  she  had  professed  to  view  the  early  steps  of  the 
Gospel,  joined  hands  with  the  pagan  priesthood,  and 
conferred  on  the  church  the  unintentional  honour  of 
distinguishing  it  from  all  other  "  superstitions,"  by  the 
superior  activity  of  its  deadly  hate.  Armed  with  the 
sword  of  the  civil  power,  and  marching  under  its  ban- 
ners, 300  years  were  spent  in  labouring  to  crush  the 
Christian  church.  Yet,  during  all  these  ages  of  perse- 
cution, it  does  not  appear  that  the  emperors  had  occa- 
sion to  enact  any  new  penal  laws.  So  amply  was  the 
ancient  armoury  of  the  Roman  code  stored  with  the 
weapons  of  persecution  that  they  had  only  to  select 
and  to  wield  them  at  pleasure.  Nor  should  it  be  for- 
gotten that  the  bad  pre-eminence  of  raising  persecu- 
tion from  a  law  to  a  science  was  reserved  for  a  pagan. 


AN    ESSAY.  257 

Julian  it  was  who  first  taught  the  theory  of  persecu- 
tion, and  made  it  a  branch  of  practical  philosophy. 

4.  If  Christianity  has  practised  persecution,  she 
learned  the  dreadful  art  from  her  own  personal  suffer- 
ings at  the  hands  of  her  pagan  tormentors.  Long  in- 
structed in  the  maxims  of  intolerance,  and  accustomed 
to  the  spectacle  of  persecution,  it  was  hardly  possible 
that  Christians  should  suddenly  forget  the  lessons  of 
their  pagan  oppressors,  or  support  with  perfect  equa- 
nimity the  sudden  transition  they  experienced,  from 
being  treated  as  the  "  ofFscouring  of  all  things,"  to 
becoming  the  lords  of  the  world.  But  to  the  honour  of 
the  Christian  name  be  it  remembered,  that  universal 
toleration  was  first  taught,  and  taught  by  one  professed- 
ly Christian,  even  at  the  time  of  that  transition.  Con- 
stantino, whatever  his  motives,  and  however  inconsis- 
tent his  subsequent  conduct,  enacted,  in  his  edict  of 
Milan,  universal  toleration,  protecting  alike  pagan  and 
Christian  ceremonies. 

5.  The  greatest  waste  of  human  life  has  been  oc- 
casioned, not  by  religion,  true  or  false,  but  by  causes 
purely  political.  What  ancient  empire  was  not  found- 
ed in  or  cemented  by  blood  ?  What  but  war  fills  the 
pages  of  ancient  history  ?  What  do  we  know  of 
Sesostris,  but  that  he  led  out  armies  of  above  700,000 
men,  and  coloured  the  Mediterranean  with  blood  ? 
What  do  we  know  of  Semiramis,  but  that  she  armed 
three  millions  for  a  single  war  with  India,  and  conduct- 
ed every  other  contest  on  the  same  gigantic  scale  ? 
What  do  we  know  of  the  Assyrian,  Median,  and  Per- 
sian monarchies,  or  of  the  Grecian  and  Roman  states, 
but  that  each  had,  in  every  age,  its  own  Aceldama,  or 
field  of  blood  ? 

"  War,"  says  Machiavel,  "  ought  to  be  the  only 
study  of  a  prince."  While  Hobbes,  judging  from  the 
past,  imagines  that  war  is  the  state  of  nature.  "  Politi- 
cal society,"  says  Burke,  "  has  slaughtered  upwards 
of  seventy  times  the  number  of  souls  this  day  on  the 
globe."  So  that  if  the  quarrels  and  bloodshed  occa- 
sioned by  a  nominal  Christianity  is  to  be  employed  as 
17 


258  CHRISTIANITY   NO    PERSECUTOR: 

an  argument  against  the  Gospel,  the  greater  evils  aris- 
ing from  civil  society  supply  a  still  stronger  argument 
for  returning  to  a  state  of  savage  nature.* 

6.  Many  of  the  contentions,  v^ars,  and  massacres 
professedly  religious  have,  in  their  origin,  been  really 
and  simply  political.  The  crusades  themselves,  or,  as 
they  v\rere  called  to  serve  a  purpose,  the  holy  wars, 
unquestionably  originated,  not  in  any  reverence  for  the 
land  they  wasted,  but  in  the  rapacity  and  ambition  of 
two  of  the  most  turbulent  popes  that  ever  filled  the 
pontifical  throne.  And  in  the  same  way,  the  wars  of 
the  league,  commonly  ascribed  to  a  religious  origin, 
took  their  rise  in  the  personal  resentment  and  ambitious 
projects  of  the  leaders  of  factions  and  the  princes  of 
the  blood.  Political  causes  having  drawn  the  sword, 
a  corrupt  religion  was  only  employed  to  poison  its  edge, 
that  the  wound  inflicted  might  be  the  more  difficult  to 
heal. 

7.  All  those  persecutions  and  wars  which  have 
professedly  originated  in  religious  motives,  have  been 
undertaken  in  direct  opposition  to  the  spirit  of  the  Gos- 
pel, and  are  denounced  by  it.  Popery  may  have  been 
to  blame,  human  nature  may  have  been  to  blame,  (for 
every  man  has  more  or  less  of  the  priest  in  his  heart, 
as  far  as  that  term  is  associated  with  the  idea  of  bigot- 
ry,) but  the  Gospel  never.  So  far  from  this,  it  pro- 
claims "  peace  on  earth,  good- will  towards  men."  To 
every  individual  who  would  draw  a  material  sword  in 
its  defence,  its  language  is,  "  Put  up  thy  sword  again 
into  its  place."  And  if  the  sword  be  not  quickly 
sheathed,  it  flies  from  the  place  as  from  an  uncongenial 
element ;  so  that  in  every  scene  of  intolerance,  the 
presence  of  the  Gospel  has  always  been  felt  like  a  bur- 
den and  a  restraint.  Nor  was  it  till  men  had  succeed- 
ed in  forgetting  or  defying  it,  that  persecution  felt  itself 
at  full  liberty  to  kindle  its  fires  and  indulge  its  hate  ; 
and  often,  alas  !  at  such  times,  the  Bible  has  been  the 
first  martyr  cast  into  the  flames. 

*  See   that   admirable  piece  of  irony  by   Burke,   "  A.  Vindication  of 
Natural  Society." 


AN    ESSAY.  259 

8,  In  proportion  as  the  Gospel  triumphs,  persecu- 
tions cease,  and  a  spirit  of  forbearance  and  charity- 
succeeds.  To  take  the  character  of  Christianity  from 
its  stagnant  and  corrupted  form  in  the  middle  ages,  is  as 
inconsistent  as  to  judge  of  the  mountain  stream  of  the 
Jordan  from  an  analysis  of  the  bituminous  waters  of 
the  Dead  Sea,  in  which  they  are  lost.  To  judge  of 
them  fairly,  they  should  be  traced  to  their  fountain, 
and  examined  in  their  purity.  If  ever  benevolence 
was  made  visible  in  human  form,  it  was  in  the  person 
of  the  Divine  Founder  of  Christianity.  In  accordance 
with  these  representations,  excommunication  was  the 
earliest,  and,  for  ages,  the  only  weapon  the  church 
employed.  Though  burning  with  zeal  against  erro- 
neous opinions,  the  apostolical  fathers,  like  the  apostles 
themselves,  neither  authorised  nor  hinted  any  severity 
on  the  persons  of  those  opposed  to  them.  The  only 
panoply  they  wore  was  an  armour  of  character ;  their 
only  weapons,  the  love  that  attracts,  the  patience  that 
endures,  and  the  union  that  gives  strength.  The  vic- 
tories they  achieved  were  all  bloodless — the  moral 
conquest  of  revolted  minds.  And  now  again,  after 
Christianity  has,  for  ages,  been  overlaid  by  the  accu- 
mulated errors  and  oppressions  of  the  world,  it  is  rising 
and  shaking  the  mountain  weight  from  its  giant  breast, 
and  resuming  its  celestial  character.  Unlike  the  Jor- 
dan, it  is  not  only  pure  at  its  fountain,  but  is  gradually 
purifying  the  element  of  corruption  which  had  neutral- 
ised and  absorbed  it.  Like  the  waters  of  prophetic 
vision, — its  own  appropriate  type, — it  is  "  going  down 
into  the  desert  and  into  the  sea,  to  heal  the  waters. 
And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  the  waters  shall  be 
healed,  and  every  thing  shall  live  whither  the  river 
comes." 

Wherever  the  light  of  the  Gospel  comes,  the  spectre 
of  intolerance  shrinks  and  retires  from  its  presence, 
while  the  Divine  principle  of  charity  lifts  up  its  head 
and  feels  reassured.  The  splendid  hope  which  some 
entertain, — that  the  Gospel  will  ultimately  unite  the 
whole  Christian  church  in   every  article  of  faith  and 


260  CHRISTIANITY   NO    PERSECUTOR. 

practice,  in  inward  sentiment  as  well  as  in  outward 
form, — is  only,  it  is  to  be  feared,  a  visionary  scene  ; 
though  the  fact  that  it  should  be  able  to  awaken  such 
an  expectation  proclaims  abroad  its  conciliatory  spirit. 
There  is,  however,  an  union  which  its  members  pray 
for  and  its  promises  secure — an  union  of  affection, 
which,  linking  heart  to  heart,  shall  leave  the  judgment 
free,  and  which,  out  of  the  varying  tones  of  many 
minds,  shall  form  an  harmonious  whole. 


THE  COMING  SPRING. 

I  SING  the  spring  : — 

"  The  spring,  the  spring,  the  beautiful  spring." 

Whose  heart  does  not  leap  up  at  the  sound  ?  It  re- 
news one's  youth  Uke  the  eagle's.  It  makes  one  feel 
all  over  wings  ;  requiring  weights  and  policemen,  like 
the  monster  balloon,  to  keep  one  down.  But  the  allu- 
sion reminds  me  of  the  murky  town,  I  live  in  the 
country :  what  will  the  poor  townites  say  to  that  ?  I 
know  what  they  ought  to  say  and  to  do  ;  let  them  ac- 
knowledge my  superiority,  and  take  off  their  hats,  and 
stand  while  I  address  them.  Talk  of  classification ! 
what  division  of  the  human  race  so  simple,  natural, 
and  comprehensive,  as  that  which  distributes  it  into 
city-dwellers  and  country-dwellers  ?  Do  you  require 
proof  ?  "  God  made  the  country,  and  man  made  the 
town  :" — there  the  point  is  settled.  Even  your  poor 
town-dwellers  have  your  anticipations  of  the  coming 
spring — anticipations  bright  as  a  farthing  rush-light  in 
a  fog ;  you  expect  your  two  or  three  stinted  and  im- 
prisoned trees  will  find  out,  somehow  or  other,  that  the 
season  of  spring  is  at  hand,  and  will  try  to  look  green. 
Hope  is  the  evergreen,  the  perpetual  spring  of  the 
heart — and  you  hope  to  hear  your  cockney  sparrows 
give  two  chirps  instead  of  one,  and  to  see  them  fly  by 
your  windows  with  bits  of  string,  in  default  of  hay 
and  straw  ;  and  you  hope  your  poor  coffined  mignon- 
ette will  smell  as  sweet  "  as  can  be  expected  ;"  and 
that  your  two  or  three  sickly  shrubs — which,  though 
not  dead,  are  decently  buried — will  still  hold  up  their 
heads.  And  even  the  poor  Esquimaux,  at  Wapping 
and  thereabouts — with  their  arctic  winter  and  polar  fogs 


262  THE    COMING    SPRING: 

— are  no  doubt  beginning  to  hope ;  not  that  they  ex- 
pect to  see  more  summer  for  the  present,  but  a  little 
less  fog. 

Oh  !  who  does  not  love  the  country  ?  It  is  a  pas- 
sion born  with  all ;  an  element  of  our  common  nature, 
infused  at  the  creation  of  the  kind  ;  a  flame  that  lives 
on  unextinguished  even  amidst  the  brick-and-mortar 
influence  of  town — 

"  Where  nothing  feeds  it ;  neither  business,  crowds, 
Nor  habits  of  luxurious  city-life, 
Whatever  else  they  smother  of  true  worth 
In  human  bosoms,  quench  it,  nor  abate. 
The  villas  with  which  London  stands  begirt, 
Like  a  swarth  Indian,  with  his  belt  of  beads, 
Prove  it.    A  breath  of  unadulterated  air, 
The  glimpse  of  a  green  pasture,  how  they  cheer 
The  citizen,  and  brace  his  languid  frame  ! 
Even  in  the  stifling  bosom  of  the  town, 
A  garden,  in  which  nothing  thrives,  has  charms 
That  soothe  the  rich  possessor  ;  much  consoled 
That  here  and  there  some  sprigs  of  mournful  mint. 
Of  nightshade,  or  valerian,  grace  the  well 
He  cultivates.    These  serve  him  with  a  hint 
That  nature  lives." 

Oh  !  who  does  not  love  the  country  }  "  We  are  here," 
says  Cowley,  in  language  more  passionate  than  can 
any  where  be  found  in  his  passionless  poetry,  "  we 
are  here  among  the  vast  and  noble  scenes  of  nature  ; 
we  are  there  among  the  pitiful  shifts  of  policy  :  we 
work  here  in  the  light  and  open  ways  of  the  Divine 
bounty ;  we  grope  there  in  the  dark  and  confused  lab- 
yrinths of  human  malice  :  our  senses  are  here  feasted 
with  the  clear  and  genuine  taste  of  their  objects,  which 
are  all  sophisticated  there,  and  for  the  most  part  over- 
whelmed with  their  contraries  :  here  is  harmless  and 
cheap  plenty ;  there  guilty  and  expensive  luxury." 

But  what  has  this  to  do  with  the  coming  spring  ^ 
What }  why,  is  it  not  very  introductory  }  and  would 
you  rush  into  the  presence  of  such  a  subject  without  a 
formal  introduction }  With  this  preparation,  then,  we 
proceed.     And,  first,  has  it  never  struck   you  as  a 


AN    ESSAY.  263 

thing  to  be  wondered  at,  that  of  the  five  hundred  and 
one  essays,  odes,  sonnets,  and  verses  written  last  year 
on  the  four  seasons,  just  ^Ye  hundred  were  devoted 
to  them  while  current,  or  else  celebrated  their  glories 
when  they  had  passed  away ;  and  that  only  the  odd 
one  (and  that  a  very  odd  one  indeed,  of  which  the 
least  said  the  better,)  looked  forwards,  and  antedated 
the  object  of  its  regard  ?     I  propose  to  add  another. 

I  have  just  been  strolling  abroad  to  refresh  my  ver- 
nal associations.  It  is  true  the  landscape  still  wears  a 
bald  and  wintery  aspect ;  and  a  month,  at  least,  must 
yet  elapse  before  it  will  assume  a  much  lovelier  hue. 
But  I  need  not  wait  till  then,  thought  I,  in  order  to  en- 
joy a  foretaste.  The  spring  is  even  now  invisibly  at 
work  in  ten  thousand  times  ten  thousand  ways.  Na- 
ture, at  this  moment,  is  a  vast  laboratory,  in  which  all 
her  vital  elements  and  divine  essences  are  in  process. 
The  omnific  word  has  gone  forth, — "  Let  the  face  of 
the  earth  be  renewed,"  and  all  the  agents  of  the  mate- 
rial universe  (and  many  of  the  spiritual  too,  for  aught 
we  know)  are  busily  obeying  the  fiat.  Below  the 
brown  surface  of  that  ploughed  land  there  lives,  and 
wakes,  and  works  a  sleepless  principle,  which  is  silent- 
ly but  irresistibly  converting  these  clods  into  food,  and 
life,  and  beauty.  That  bank  is  covered,  at  present, 
with  nothing  but  grass,  but  he  who  has  an  ear  to  hear 
will  hear,  if  he  bends  and  listens,  a  sweet  whispering 
below,  between  a  violet,  a  daisy,  and  a  wild  primrose, 
about  an  annual  visit  which  they  have  lately  received, 
and  which  has  put  them  all  in  the  highest  spirits. 
That  old  hawthorn  looks  dead,  but  not  he  !  spring  has 
touched  his  remotest  and  minutest  fibres ;  his  juices 
are  already  ascending,  and  every  thing  within  him  is 
saying — "  only  wait  a  little,  and  you  shall  see  me  one 
white  impurpled  shower  of  fragrant  blossoms."  In 
all  her  myriad  ways  Nature  is  abroad,  reviving  her 
works,  shedding  her  perfumes,  mingling  her  colours, 
breathing  on  her  seeds,  and  calling  her  beautiful  chil- 
dren to  life.     The  very  air  owns  it,  and  is  balmy  ;  the 


264  THE    COMING    SPRING: 

soil  feels  it,  and  inhales  the  incense  of  gratitude  ;  that 
cloud,  so  different  from  the  clouds  of  winter,  so  soft 
and  wreathy,  and  like  the  dew-filled  fleece  of  Gideon, 
comes  spring-loaded  from  the  great  Giver — one  of  the 
wishes  of  nature  fulfilled.  Only  stand  still,  and  lis- 
ten ;  all  is  silent,  the  silence  of  hope,  of  assured  ex- 
pectation. The  very  birds,  for  the  moment,  are  hush- 
ed ;  but  it  is  only  the  hush  of  pleasing  suspense ;  let 
the  signal  be  given,  and  out  they  will  burst  into  a  glo- 
rious chorus.  Did  you  note  that  slight  rustle  among 
the  branches  ?  was  it  not  soft  as  the  folding  of  angel- 
wings  ?     It  was  nature  breathing  over  her  beauties. 

But  I  need  not  tax  imagination  in  order  to  see  the 
spring.  Already  its  outward  and  visible  signs  are 
every  where  around  me.  Yesterday  morning,  on  vis- 
iting my  garden,  I  descried  that  welcome  messenger 
of  spring,  the  galanthus  nivalis^  or  snowdrop.  There 
it  lay  "  beneath  its  white  coverlid,  so  pure  and  pale, 
so  true  an  emblem  of  hope,  and  trust,  and  confidence, 
that  it  might  teach  a  lesson  to  the  desponding,  and 
show  the  useless  and  inactive  how  invaluable  are  the 
stirrings  of  that  energy  that  can  work  out  its  purpose 
in  secret,  and  under  oppression,  and  be  ready  in  the 
fulness  of  time  to  make  that  purpose  manifest  and 
complete."  A  little  further  on,  a  group  of  hepaticas 
smiled  to  receive  me ;  the  fringed  star  of  Bethlehem 
and  the  spring  bulbocodium  were  trembling  with  de- 
light— a  crocus  was  looking  like  a  whole  spring  in  it- 
self— a  primrose  spoke  to  the  imagination  of  thatched 
cottages,  and  sloping  banks,  and  woody  dells,  and  hap- 
py children — and  a  violet,  without  holding  up  its  head, 
spoke  to  the  heart  of  modest  retiring  beauty,  and  the 
fragrance  of  virtue.  Going  forth  again,  in  the  open 
weather  of  the  evening,  I  was  greeted  with  other  har- 
bingers of  spring — less  lovely  to  the  eye,  indeed,  than 
those  which  I  have  named,  but  far  from  unacceptable 
to  the  lover  of  nature — the  grey  slug,  and  the  homely 
earthworm,  and  the  bat,  just  awoke  from  its  winter's 
sleep. 


AN   ESSAY.  265 

Before  I  left  home  this  morning  for  my  walk,  a  red- 
breast, which  I  have  fed  through  the  cold  weather, 
came  to  my  window,  sang  as  merrily  as  a  robin  can — 
thanked  me  for  all  past  favours — and  said,  as  plainly 
as  he  could,  that  he  was  about  to  look  out  for  a  "  bet- 
ter half."  A  tomtit  and  chaffinch  were  by  and  heard 
him,  and  signified  that  so  good  an  example  deserved 
to  be  followed.  As  to  the  sparrows,  they  have  all 
paired,  and  are  furnishing  their  houses.  But  what 
large  bird  is  that  winging  its  way  on  high,  as  if  from 
the  sea-coast  ?  surely  it  is  the  curlew ;  then  he  is  re- 
tiring from  his  winter  haunt  to  his  inland  breeding- 
place.  And,  hark !  the  lyric  sky-lark  is  aloft  at  heav- 
en's gates,  raining  down  a  shower  of  music  to  the 
earth ;  and  there  bursts  forth  the  song-thrush,  singing 
"  as  if  he  would  never  grow  old,"  and  as  if  the  six 
pure  scarlet  drops  in  his  body  were  elixir  vitce;  and 
there  darts  by  a  bee,  humming  as  merrily  as  if  all  the 
world  were  a  hive,  or  every  thing  in  it  flowers  and 
honey. 

Man  of  the  city !  dost  thou  not  almost  wish  for  a 
country  calenture,  that  thou  mightest  taste  the  spring, 
if  only  by  the  force  of  a  diseased  imagination  ?  Wilt 
thou  not  treat  thy  poor  wheezing  lungs  with  a  little 
country  air  ?  Dost  thou  not  long  for  "  the  key  of  the 
field  ?"  Wouldst  thou  not  give  thy  freedom  of  the  city 
to  be  made  free  of  the  green  paths, — 

"  The  haunts  of  deer, 
And  sheep-walks  populous  with  bleating  lambs  j 
And  lanes,  in  which  the  primrose  ere  her  time 
Peeps  through  the  moss  that  clothes  the  hawthorn  root  ?" 

Will  thy  street-music  compare  with  that  music  of 
the  flock  ?  or  thy  dancing  dogs  with  the  joyous  gam- 
bols of  those  new-yeaned  lambs  ?  Hear  what  Milton 
saith  on  the  subject :  "In  those  vernal  seasons  of  the 
year,  when  the  air  is  calm  and  pleasant,  it  were  an  in- 
jury and  sullenness  against  nature  not  to  go  out  and 


266  THE    COMING    SPRING. 

see  her  riches,  and  partake  in  her  rejoicing  with  heav- 
en and  earth."  Dost  thou  not  feel  inclined  to  go  forth 
at  once  ?  Is  not  the  spring  strong  upon  thee,  and  the 
sun  shining  in  upon  thy  heart  ?  Lift  up  thy  voice, 
then,  and  sing  of  "  the  coming  spring  :" — 

"  Hail,  bounteous  spring,  thou  dost  inspire 
Mirth,  and  youth,  and  warm  desire ; 
Woods  and  groves  are  of  thy  dressing, 
Hill  and  dale  doth  boast  thy  blessing. 
Thus  we  salute  thee  with  one  early  song, 
And  welcome  thee,  and  wish  thee  long." 


THE  LEAF. 


We  all  do  fade  as  a  leaf. — Isaiah. 


Have  you  never  been  struck,  reader,  by  the  evident 
resemblance  between  the  various  appearances  of  na- 
ture, and  the  various  states  of  the  human  mind,  as 
well  as  the  successive  stages  of  human  life  ?  If  not, 
reflect  on  it,  and  you  will  find  it  interesting.  We  can 
easily  conceive  how  the  Divine  Being  might  have' 
created  a  perpetual  variance  between  our  condition 
and  the  state  of  nature  around  us.  When  he  pro- 
nounced the  earth  accursed  "  for  our  sakes,"  he  might 
have  aggravated  that  curse,  by  surrounding  us  to  a 
painful  extent  with  immitigable  sameness.  He  might 
have  reduced  the  large  variety  of  animal  tribes  to  the 
few  which  we  use  for  food ;  and  have  left  us  no  quad- 
ruped to  please  us  with  its  gambols — no  insect  to  sport 
in  the  summer's  sun — no  birds  to  delight  us  with  their 
flight  and  their  song.  He  might  have  taken  away  all 
the  beauty  of  the  landscape,  by  commanding  the  hill 
to  sink  and  the  valley  to  rise  to  a  perfect  level — by 
sinking  the  torrent  and  the  rivulet  beneath  the  surface 
of  the  earth — and  by  substituting  for  the  towering  and 
luxuriant  tree  nothing  but  the  thorn  and  the  brier.  And 
from  this  scene  he  might  have  commanded  the  moon 
and  the  stars  to  withdraw  their  light,  and  have  permit- 
ted the  sun  to  look  upon  it  only  through  a  cloud.  And 
had  the  face  of  nature  worn  an  aspect  so  dreary,  he 
doubtless  would  have  counted  himself  most  happy,  or 
rather  least  miserable,  who  could  have  secluded  him- 
self most  effectually  from  beholding  it.  But  so  far 
from  being  surrounded  by  such  a  scene,  paradise  was 
not  more  adapted  to  man  in  his  state  of  primeval 


268  THE  leaf: 

purity,  than  the  present  condition  of  nature  corresponds 
with  our  altered  circumstances. 

We  know  not  to  what  extent  the  fall  of  man  affected 
the  original  constitution  of  nature.  In  the  poetic  eye 
of  Milton, 

"  Sky  lowered,  and,  muttering  thunder,  some  sad  drops 
Wept  at  completing  of  the  mortal  sin 
Original." 

But  this,  if  more  than  poetically  correct,  was  only 
a  presage  of  approaching  revolution.  From  the  tenour 
of  the  curse,  we  learn  that  a  material  change,  never 
to  be  revoked,  immediately  followed.  Nor  do  we 
know  the  effects  produced  by  the  universal  deluge,  and 
by  other  convulsions  of  nature.  But  whatever  they 
may  have  been,  we  find  ourselves  the  passing  inhabi- 
tants of  a  world  where  nature,  animate  and  inanimate, 
seems  to  sympathize  with  out  lot,  to  point  out  our 
duties,  and  to  remind  us  of  our  end.  Nature,  in  this 
light,  is  only  a  grand  depository  of  means  intended  to 
promote  the  end  of  our  being.  It  is  a  temple  in  which 
piety  finds  herself  surrounded  by  a  thousand  emana- 
tions from  the  Supreme,  and  addressed  by  a  thousand 
voices  of  warning  and  encouragement.  The  poet  has 
drawn  from  it  his  most  pathetic  images — the  moralist 
many  of  his  best  arguments  and  examples — and  the 
prophet  some  of  his  most  arousing  monitions. 

In  exemplification  of  this  fact,  but  without  pretend- 
ing to  furnish  an  adequate  idea  of  it,  you  may  be 
reminded  of  a  few  of  the  more  obvious  illustrations  of 
our  condition  with  which  nature  abounds.  How  often 
is  the  restlessness  of  man  compared  to  the  constant 
agitation  of  the  ocean ;  and  the  uncertainty  of  friend- 
ship, and  of  success  in  life,  to  the  instability  of  that 
element.  How  beautifully  does  the  setting  of  the  un- 
clouded sun  illustrate  the  closing  scene  of  the  Chris- 
tian's hfe;  how  friendly  the  calm  and  twilight  of 
evening  are  to  solitude  and  meditation  ;  and  how  aptly 
the  rage  of  a  storm  represents  the  frequent  turbulence 


AN    ESSAY.  269 

of  human  passions.  If  life  be  compared  to  a  day,  it 
has  its  morning,  its  noon,  its  evening,  and  its  night ; 
and  when  compared  with  the  year,  it  has  its  "  flower- 
ing spring,"  its  "  summer's  ardent  strength,"  its 

"  Sober  Autumn  fading  into  age ; 
And  pale  concluding  winter  comes  at  last 
And  shuts  the  scene." 

No  subject,  however,  has  been  more  copiously  illustrat- 
ed, by  comparisons  drawn  from  nature,  than  the  brevity 
and  uncertainty  of  human  life.  The  change  con- 
tinually passing  upon  every  thing  around  us,  can 
scarcely  fail  to  remind  even  the  most  thoughtless  that 
such,  "  in  his  best  estate,"  is  man.  But  it  is  an  unwel- 
come subject  to  the  majority  of  mankind,  and  often 
remanded,  like  Paul  by  Felix,  until  a  more  conveni- 
ent season  shall  have  arrived.  It  cannot,  however, 
be  dismissed  at  present  on  account  of  its  unseasona- 
bleness,  for  scarcely  can  we  walk  out  without  being 
reminded  of  it  by  some  striking  emblem.  The  warmth 
of  summer  is  gone,  and  the  freshness  of  the  grass. 
The  tribes  of  insects  have  gradually  disappeared,  and 
those  which  Providence  instructs  to  provide  for  the 
winter,  have  begun  to  live  on  the  fruit  of  their  in- 
dustry. The  trees  have  lost  the  beauty  and  luxuriance 
of  their  foliage ;  for  while  some  of  them  are  already 
left  naked  to  the  blast,  the  leaves  which  remain  on  the 
rest  have  become  sere  and  yellow,  and  every  breath 
of  air  diminishes  their  number.  The  birds  are  become 
silent,  and  the  sun  leaves  us  in  darkness  early  in  the 
day.  Here  then  is  a  silent  but  an  eloquent  appeal  to 
our  hearts,  and  surely  no  one  can  be  offended  when 
nature  itself  becomes  the  instructor.  Had  we,  by 
any  possibility,  been  ignorant  that  all  the  preceding 
generations  of  men  had  died,  and  that  the  same  event 
awaited  us,  who  could  go  out  and  contemplate  those 
images  of  desolation,  without  wondering  whether  a 
change  would  ever  take  place  in  our  condition,  answer- 
ing to  this  change  in  the  aspect  of  nature  ?     But  this 


270  THE    LEAF. 

is  not  a  subject  of  conjecture — we  know  that  it  is  the 
lot  of  all,  and  nature  only  aims  to  remind  us  of  it. 
We  are  too  much  disposed  to  act  as  though  the  winter 
of  our  life  would  never  come.  But  nature  addresses 
us  in  the  tone  of  warning,  and  assures  us  that  it  will ; 
and  presents  itself  as  an  example.  We  are  so  far 
absorbed  in  the  present  concerns  of  life,  that  we  are 
in  extreme  danger  of  forgetting  what  awaits  us  at  the 
end.  But,  as  if  to  prevent  this  fatal  inattention,  nature 
dies  before  our  eyes.  It  prospectively  celebrates  our 
funeral ;  and  while  the  funeral  procession  is  passing 
before  us,  the  voice  of  wisdom  pronounces  in  solemn 
accents,  "  We  all  do  fade  as  a  leaf." 

And  is  it  so,  reader  ? — Then  act  as  though  you  be- 
lieved it.  And  remember  that  the  portion  which  awaits 
the  Christian,  when  he  has  faded  and  fallen  here,  is 
"  an  inheritance,  incorruptible,  undefiled,  and  that 
fadeth  not  away."  His  body  too,  like  seed  deposited 
in  the  earth,  is  eventually  to  burst  into  second  life.  It 
is  designed  to  wear  no  earthly  form,  but  to  be  "  fashion- 
ed like  unto  Christ's  glorious  body."  And  at  the  same 
moment  a  new  heaven  and  a  new  earth  are  to  start 
into  being  likewise.  Not  more  certainly  will  the  pre- 
sent season  give  place  to  another  spring,  than  the 
storms  and  vicissitudes  of  time  will  be  succeeded  by 
that  glorious  event.  To  secure  that,  the  Saviour  died  ; 
and  to  accelerate  it,  he  lives,  and  reigns,  and  triumphs. 
It  is  that  to  which  all  the  affairs  of  the  universe  are 
hourly  tending.  Then  a  summer  shall  flourish  which 
shall  know  no  winter ;  then  the  verdure  shall  never 
wither ;  and  the  blessed  who  enjoy  it,  freed  from  every 
thing  which  rendered  them  fading  on  earth,  shall  know 
no  change  but  that  of  advancing  "  from  glory  to  glory." 


EGOTISM. 


You  may  rely  on  it,  reader,  that  nearly  all  the 
world,  except  you  and  I,  are  egotists ;  so  that,  by  the 
bye,  we  ourselves  must  have  had  a  very  narrow  es- 
cape. "  But  how  is  it,  then,"  you  inquire,  "  that  so 
many  pass  for  modest,  unassuming  men?"  Why,  it 
is  simply  thus  :  some  men  are  much  more  accomplish- 
ed egotists  than  others ;  they  know  when  to  attract 
notice  by  appearing  to  disregard  it ;  when  to  change 
the  first  person  singular  into  the  second ,  and  when  to 
excite  the  surprise  and  concern  of  the  sympathetic,  by 
affecting  an  undue  degree  of  self-dissatisfaction  and 
self-severity.  And  some  are  much  less  egotistical 
than  others.  The  principle  of  egotiveness  is  within 
them,  but  circumstances  have  prevented  the  develop- 
ment of  the  organ.  And  provided  a  man's  propensity 
to  self-exaltation  be  not  very  obtrusive,  he  is  allowed, 
by  a  kind  of  common  courtesy,  to  pass  for  a  modest 
man.  This  is  his  premium  for  being  what  he  is,  and 
his  bribe  to  remain  so.  He  is  but  a  pigmy  conipared 
with  the  giant  egotists  arourtd  him,  and  his  reward  is 
to  pass  unnoticed. 

But  look  me  out  the  man  who  appears  most  dispos- 
sessed of  self,  and  transport  him  to  some  planet  inhab- 
ited by  beings  guiltless  of  selfism,  and  you  shall  find 
that  even  he  will  prove  to  be  an  egotist  in  every  world 
but  his  own.  He  was  humble  here  only  by  compari- 
son ;  but  there,  no  one  could  doubt  for  a  moment  that 
he  was  of  the  earth — earthy.  And  why  ?  because  he 
would  be  always  talking  about  our  world,  and  the 
superiority  of  our  habits  and  manners  ;  and  be  dispos- 
ed to  take  the  lead  in  every  planetary  conversation  ; 


272  EGOTISM. 

and  aiming  to  excite  astonishment  by  recitals  of  the 
marvelous. 

But  you  need  not  transport  him  to  a  distant  planet 
for  this  purpose  :  try  the  experiment  on  a  smaller 
scale ;  track  him  through  two  or  three  days  of  his 
earthly  wanderings,  and  you  will  find  that  however 
unassuming  he  may  appear  in  some  circumstances,  in 
others  he  can  lay  claim  to  all  the  privileges  of  a  vete- 
ran egotist.  Has  he  just  terminated  a  journey  rather 
longer  than  usual  ?  Then  hush  :  "  I  am  Sir  Oracle — 
let  no  dog  bark."  For  one  half  hour,  at  least,  he  lays 
claim  to  your  attention  as  the  "  leading  article," 
though,  perhaps,  he  has  merely  to  relate,  "  how  he 
went  farther  than  he  intended,  and  came  safe  home 
again."  Has  he  been  involved  in  a  wordy  war  ? 
Then  he  will  astonish  you  with  the  point  of  his  repar- 
tees, and  with  what  "  I  said"  to  what  "  he  said." 
But  it  is  in  his  own  family  that  his  egotistical  propen- 
sity is  most  conspicuous.  And  it  must  be  acknowl- 
edged that  here,  if  any  where,  it  almost  ceases  to  of- 
fend ;  here,  indeed,  it  becomes  almost  amiable.  He 
is,  beyond  dispute,  the  most  important  personage  in 
the  group ;  and  his  importance  must  be  maintained. 
In  the  eyes  of  his  children — those  multiplications  of 
himself — he  is  the  strongest,  the  wisest,  and  the  best 
of  men.  And  in  the  heart  of  his  other  self^  the  dear 
idea  of  his  superiority  is  enshrined  till  death.  But 
this  pleasing  delusion,  which  seems  almost  necessary 
to  domestic  happiness,  cannot  be  maintained  without 
the  occasional  declension  of  ego.  And  let  him  egotize, 
reader ;  he  offends  neither  you  nor  me.  I  envy  him 
his  auditors  ;  and  let  him  who  would  attempt  to  dissi- 
pate the  grateful  error  be  anathematized,  and  never 
allowed  to  graduate  beyond  a  bachelor. 

But  who  is  not  an  egotist  in  his  dreams  ?  I  cannot 
forbear  venturing  an  opinion  that  even  you,  reader, 
though  of  so  retiring  a  disposition  while  awake,  and 
while  your  thoughts  are  under  the  eye  of  a  vigilant 
judgment,  no  sooner  lose  yourself  in  the  vagaries  of  a 
dream,  than  you  become  the  hero   of  every  scene 


AN    ESSAY.  273 

which  your  imagination  portrays.  You  may  dream 
of  others  ;  but  then  they  are  only  admiring  spectators 
of  your  exploits.  You  may  quarrel ;  but  your  antag- 
onist never  fails  to  be  worsted.  The  drama  suddenly 
changes,  and  a  new  scene  makes  its  appearance  ;  but 
you  are  there  in  time  to  sustain  the  principal  part. 
You  dream  of  precipices,  and  of  persons  falling  over 
them ;  but  rather  than  be  a  mere  spectator,  you  will 
fall  from  the  highest  point  yourself.  But  this  modifi- 
cation of  egotism  is  excusable ;  you  were  beguiled 
into  it  during  the  absence  of  all  mental  control.  Tf, 
indeed,  as  many  do,  you  were   accustomed  to  relate 

your  dreams,  then,  perhaps but  away  with   the 

idea !  it  is  not  for  a  moment  to  be  entertained. 

It  is  said  that  an  extra  glass  will  occasionally  trans- 
form a  very  reserved  person  into  a  most  loquacious 
egotist,  if  into  nothing  worse ; — that  it  has  a  strong 
tendency  to  revive  the  memory  of  personal  adven- 
ures,  respectable  connexions,  and  rich  relations.  But 
however  this  may  be,  it  must  be  allowed  that  a  slight 
degree  of  personal  deference,  to  say  nothing  of  adu- 
lation, will  frequently  operate  to  this  effect.  When  a 
man  perceives  that  you  know  him,  and  that  you  regard 
him  (perhaps  justly)  with  marked  and  respectful  at- 
tention, he  feels  that  he  has  to  support  a  certain  char- 
acter, and  rather  than  sink  in  your  estimation,  he  is  in 
extreme  danger  of  contracting  the  guilt  of  egotism. 
This  will,  in  some  measure,  account  for  the  fact  why 
so  many  men  of  mental  eminence  are  chargeable  with 
the  commission  of  this  offence.  For  be  it  remember- 
ed, that  whatever  it  may  betray,  it  is  a  propensity  by 
no  means  peculiar  to  mental  imbecility.  They  have 
been  placed  in  circumstances  of  this  description  so 
often,  that  a  feeling  of  self-importance  has  been  first 
generated,  and  this,  by  repetition,  has  gradually  led  to 
a  habit  of  self-exaltation.  Hence  Cicero  became  an 
egotist,  though  he  was  evidently  most  anxious  to  con- 
ceal it ;  and  Montaigne,  who  wrote  I  more  frequently 
than  any  other  letter  of  the  alphabet ;  and  Wolsey, 
whose  motto  of  "  I  and  my  king,"  renders  him  an  ex- 
18 


274  EGOTISM. 

ample  worthy  the  attention  of  every  succeeding  ego- 
tist. And  why  should  thy  name  be  omitted,  Cobbett  ? 
thou  prince  of  egots !  thou  whose  every  page  breathes 
self-inspiration,  and  the  most  enviable  degree  of  self- 
satisfaction.  This,  too,  will  partially  account  for  the 
publication  of  so  many  trips  and  travels,  conversa- 
tions, reminiscences,  autobiographies,  and  a  variety  of 
nameless  effusions,  "  at  the  request  of  friends."  And 
why  will  it  not  equally  account  for  the  slight  degree 
of  egotism  attributable  to  honest  John  Bull  ?  He  boasts 
"  a  constitution  which  is  the  envy  of  surrounding  na- 
tions, and  the  admiration  of  the  world."  And  when 
it  is  remembered  that  many  compliments  to  this  effect 
have  reached  his  patriotic  ear,  it  is  not  strange  that  he 
should  believe  it.  And  when,  in  addition  to  this,  the 
character  and  pretensions  of  his  southern  neighbours 
are  remembered,  it  is  not  strange  that  he  should  so  far 
throw  off  his  natural  reserve  as  to  assert  it,  and  thus 
turn  egotist  in  self-defence. 

I  once  knew  a  thorough-paced  egotist,  and  I  would 
not  willingly  part  with  the  idea  which  I  retain  of  him. 
It  was  the  fulness,  the  perfection  of  his  egotism  alone 

which  rendered  T s  supportable.     Had  he  been 

less  egotistical  he  would  have  been  intolerable,  simply 
because  he  would  not  have  appeared  incurable.  Had  he 
occasionally  descended  from  his  stilts,  his  friends 
might  have  cherished  a  hope  that  he  might  be  gradual- 
ly taught  to  walk  upon  the  earth ;  but  he  never  disap- 
pointed their  hopes,  for  he  never  excited  any.  Had 
he  occasionally  enjoyed  a  lucid  interval,  an  attempt 
might  have  been  made  at  exorcism  ;  but  the  demon  of 
egotism  never  left  him,  so  that  no  one  could  hesitate 
to  pronounce  him  an  incurable.  It  was  scarcely  pos- 
sible to  offend  him  by  any  of  the  ordinary  means  of 
giving  offence.  Convict  him  of  ignorance  ;  his  self- 
confidence  remained  unshaken :  he  felt  assured  "  in 
his  own  mind,"  that  he  had  read  or  heard  to  the  effect 
of  what  he  had  stated ;  or,  he  was  not  in  the  habit  of 
forming  an  opinion  hastily,  nor  should  he  be  hasty  in 
relinquishing  it.     Politely  request  him  to  withdraw ; 


AN  ESSAY.  5275 

hie  evidently  pitied  you  for  defrauding  yourself  of  the 
pleasure  of  his  company.  Tax  him  with  egotism ;  he 
professed  to  hate  nothing  so  cordially.  But  if  it  was  dif- 
ficult to  displease  him,  it  was  a  proverbial  impossibility 
to  put  him  on  indifferent  terms  with  himself  If  he 
ever  admitted,  for  a  moment,  that  he  could,  in  any 
single  point,  be  more  perfect  than  he  was,  it  was  done 
so  blandly,  with  so  many  alleviating  expressions  and 
assurances  of  self-esteem,  that  he  could  not  possibly 
be  offended  with  himself;  and,  moreover,  it  was  al- 
ways the  certain  forerunner  of  invidious  comparisons 
with  those  around  him,  and  ended  in  torrents  of  self- 
gratulation.  He  was  a  happy  instance  of  the  princi- 
ple of  gravitation,  for  he  was  his  own  centre,  and  to 
that  he  tended  with  a  constancy  and  force  of  deter- 
mination which  nothing  external  could  ever  disturb — 

"  And  I s,  self-balanc€d,  on  his  centre  hung." 

In  conversation  he  quoted  principally  from  himself,  as 
a  classical  scholar  would  from  the  ancients ;  for  few 
sayings  had  ever  escaped  from  his  lips  which  his  mem- 
ory had  not  embalmed  with  the  most  pious  solicitude. 
In  a  doubtful  question  he  seldom  appealed  to  a  higher 
authority  than  himself,  which  he  did  with  the  readi- 
ness and  accuracy  of  a  lawyer  appealing  to  an  old  act 
of  parliament ;  naming  the  date  when  he  had  formed 
the  opinion  or  used  the  expression  alluded  to,  together 
with  the  minutest  circumstances  which  led  to  it.  Few 
incidents  of  modern  times  could  be  mentioned  in  con- 
versation of  which  he  had  not  some  knowledge,  which 
called  for  the  attention  of  the  company.  But  when- 
ever he  condescended  to  refer  to  an  incident  which 
did  not  relate  immediately  to  himself,  he  commonly 
atoned  for  the  defect  by  giving  a  most  detailed  account 
of  the  several  stages  through  which  it  had  passed  be- 
fore it  reached  him — the  depository  of  all  knowledge 
and  secrets,  past,  present,  and  to  come.  And  in  doing 
this,  he  generally  managed  to  introduce,  indirectly,  a 
few  names  and  circumstances,  intended,  if  not  calcu- 


276  EGOTISM. 

lated,  to  raise  him  in  the  opinion  of  those  he  address- 
ed, so  that,  before  he  had  concluded,  the  original  inci- 
dent was  entirely  lost  sight  of,  and  you  found  yourself 
brought  back  to  that  beginning  and  end  of  all  things — 
himself.  And  yet  there  is  not  one  of  his  acquaint- 
ance— friends,  I  believe,  he  has  none — who  would  not 
devour  his  Memoirs,  provided  they  were  written  by 
himself,  as  the  choicest  morsel  which  ever  gratified 
their  literary  palate.  But  such  a  pleasure  is  not  to  be 
-expected  ;  for  unless  he  could  be  present  at  the  read- 
ing of  every  copy  which  might  be  sold,  to  announce 
himself  as  the  hero,  and  to  offer  any  little  explanation 
which  he  might  deem  necessary,  he  would  never  think 
of  the  publication.  Farewell,  then,  thou  worthy  arch- 
etype of  the  egotistical  tribe,  farewell !  and  accept,  at 
parting,  this  feeble  tribute  to  thy  cherished  memory. 
Never  shall  it  be  said  that  thou  art  self- irreverent ;  for 
seldom  dost  thou  pronounce  thy  name  but  with  an  em- 
phasis approaching  to  awe,  or  offer  incense  at  any 
human  shrine  but  thine  own.  Thou  art  self-canon- 
ized. Never  can  it  be  said  that  thou  lackest  a  subject 
for  conversation  ;  for  thou  art  so  full  of  thyself,  that  it 
is  only  to  address  thee,  and  thou  overfiowest.  Never, 
whilst  thou  livest,  canst  thou  be  taxed  with  forgetting 
the  object  which  first  engrossed  thy  affections  ;  for  thy 
"  first  love"  was  thyself,  and  "thou  wilt  love  on  till 
death. 


THE  CHARACTER  OE 
JOHN  FOSTER,  AS  A  WRITER.* 


The  connexion  between  this  subject  and  the  spirit  and 
manners  of  the  age,  will  be  apparent  to  those  only 
who  have  not  read  the  author  in  question.  And  even 
to  such  the  connexion  may  not  be  made  apparent.  I 
might  assume,  for  this  purpose,  that  most  writers  have 
read  "  Foster's  Essays,"  and  infer  that  most  readers 
have  felt  the  effects  of  it.  It  might  indeed  require 
some  skill  to  prove  the  truth  of  this  remark  in  its  un- 
qualified state  ;  but  provided  it  were  dealt  with  fairly, 
no  modification  would  destroy  its  identity.  It  may  be 
as  difficult  to  apprehend  the  relation  between  his  mind, 
as  an  author,  and  yours,  as  a  reader  of  this  periodical, 
as  for  an  untutored  mind  to  understand  the  connexion 
between  the  two  great  elements  of  nature — water  and 
fire.  It  is,  however,  more  than  poetically  correct, 
that, — 

"  The  sun  that  light  imparts  to  all,  receives 
From  earth  his  alimental  recompeuce 
In  humid  exhalations  ;  and  at  «ven 
Sups  with  the  ocean." 

And  it  is  evident  to  the  reflecting  mind,  that  a  recipro- 
city equally  real  is  traceable  between  the  remotest  parts 
of  the  intellectual  world.  Were  a  man,  whose  men- 
tal energy  and  tastes  somewhat  resembled  those  of  our 

*  There  is  a  mournful  interest  in  presenting  this  article  to  the  eye  of 
the  reader,  now  that  its  distinguished  subject  has  closed  his  eyes  on  earth, 
and  passed  to  the  regions  of  immortality.  Some  years  after  he  had  writ- 
ten this  paper.  Dr.  H.  became  acquainted  with  Foster,  and  strong  mutual 
friendship  was  the  result.  Though  they  had  minds,  in  some  particulars, 
exceedingly  dissimilar,  each  could  see  and  admire  the  excellences  of  the 


278  THE    CHARACTER    OF   JOHN    FOSTER, 

author,  (excepting  a  few  points  of  difference,  we 
might  name  such  a  man  as  Dr.  Johnson,)  to  sit  down 
this  evening  to  the  perusal  of  "  Essays,"  it  is  not  to 
be  supposed  that  his  mind  would  be  affected  in  any 
other  way  .than  by  a  deep  feeling  of  pleasure  and  ad- 
miration. His  own  mental  habitudes,  having,  by  time 
and  exercise,  become  so  permanent,  that  nothing  short 
of  natural  decay  or  death  could  change  them.  But 
even  this  feeling  of  admiration,  excited  as  it  would  be 
by  the  exhibition  of  truths  brought  out  from  obscuri- 
ty to  which  custom  had  consigned  them,  invested  with 
new  powers  of  attraction,  skilfully  disentangled  from 
the  network  of  sophistry,  or  triumphing  over  antago- 
nist errors,  must  be  attended  by  a  corresponding  effect 
on  many  of  his  subsequent  thoughts,  and  sympathies, 
and  expressions,  on  the  same  subjects.  One  of  the 
most  likely  modes,  perhaps,  in  which  this  effect  would 
discover  itself,  would  be  by  pronouncing  on  the  author, 
in  conversation,  an  extravagant  eulogy.*  Were  a 
mind  of  powers  somewhat  inferior  to  those  of  the  au- 
thor, to  read  his  productions  with  congenial  views,  the 
effect  produced  would  probably  be,  that  of  a  wish  to 
resemble,   without   the   appearance  of  attempting  it. 

other.  One  of  the  last  notes  I  received  from  Dr.  H.  before  I  crossed  the 
Atlantic,  expressed  his  grief  at  the  removal  of  the  distinguished  Essayist,, 
and  his  hope  that  no  mean  man  would  undertake  his  biography.  I  rejoice 
to  learn  that  a  complete  edition  of  his  works,  with  a  memoir  of  his  life, 
may  shortly  be  expected  from  the  united  pens  of  two  of  his  intimate 
friends,  fully  equal  to  the  task.  In  the  mean  time,  I  would  refer  the 
readers  of  this  volume  who  may  be  able  to  gain  access  to  it,  to  an  able 
sketch  of  Foster's  intellectual  character  in  the  London  Patriot,  which  1 
happen  to  know  is  from  the  powerful  pen  of  my  highly  talented  and. 
valued  friend,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Campbell,  of  that  city.   Ed. 

*  Such  as,  "  his  thoughts  deserve  and  require  to  be  communicated  in 
the  language  of  another  world."  A  near  approach  to  the  hyperbolical, 
it  is  true  ;  but  such  substantially  is  reported  to  have  been  an  expressioEs 
used  in  reference  to  the  author  in  question,  by  a  living  writer  and  preach- 
er of  eminence,  whose  style,  it  is  presumed,  would  go  far  towards  sup- 
pressing, in  any  who  are  acquainted  with  it,  the  desire  of  an  importation 
of  solar  or  lunar  vocabularies,  and  to  reconcile  them  to  the  language  of 
our  own  planet. 


AS    A    WRITER.  279 

This  feeling  would,  insensibly  perhaps,  but  inevitably 
steal  into  his  pen,  and  for  a  time  affect  its  movements. 
I  could,  on  warrantable  grounds,  point  out  three  illus- 
trations of  this  remark.  In  one  of  them,  the  writer,  it 
would  appear,  was  fascinated  by  the  figures  of  the 
essayist ;  and  whether  owing  to  a  defective  talent  of 
appropriation,  or  the  curse  of  a  memory  too  retentive, 
or  the  fear  of  mutilating  what  he  could  not  improve, 
he  has  carefully  removed  as  many  of  them  as  he 
deemed  desirable  ;  and,  as  the  fates  would  have  it,  has 
given  them  a  silent  and  unhonoured  burial  in  his  own 
tome.  He  evidently  does  not  believe  in  the  doctrine 
of  literary  transubstantiation.  Were  the  productions 
of  the  author  read  by  an  ardent  youth,  whose  mind 
had  not  yet  acquired  a  character,  the  probability  is, 
that  he  would  take  from  them  impressions  on  some 
subjects  never  to  be  obliterated,  though  their  origin 
might  be  soon  forgotten.  So  that  whenever  he  ap- 
proaches these  subjects  afterwards,  he  will  always 
find  the  author  there  before  him.  He  will  never  again 
be  able  to  revisit  them  alone.  But  it  cannot  be  neces- 
sary to  multiply  remarks  on  this  subject. 

The  peculiar  characteristics  of  Mr.  Foster,  as  a 
writer,  are  energy  and  originality.  Some,  indeed, 
may  be  disposed  to  make  considerable  deductions  from 
his  claims  to  mental  originality,  and  to  transfer  them 
to  his  peculiar  style  of  composition.  And  it  must  be 
admitted  that  passages  might  be  pointed  out,  in  which, 
as  in  Tom  Thumb's  alphabet,  there  is  a  great  deal  of 
straining  and  effort  to  express  a,  Z>,  c.  And  there  are 
other  passages  which  remind  us  of  Voltaire's  expres- 
sion, that  language  was  given  us  to  conceal  our 
thoughts.  But  these  are  few,  and  scarcely  worth  no- 
tice. Where  his  style  is  obscure,  the  reader  may 
commonly  obtain  a  glimpse  of  the  idea,  as  of  a  moun- 
tain partially  veiled  in  mist,  sufficient  to  satisfy  him 
that  he  is  still  in  the  presence  of  grandeur.  Where  it 
is  laboured  and  complicated,  it  is  generally  the  evident 
result  of  a  herculean  struggle  to  drag  some  powerful 
and  untractable  thought  to  the  light,  and  to  make  it  to 


280  THE    CHARACTER    OF    JOHN    FOSTER, 

do  homage  to  the  subject ;  and  the  reader  feels  grate- 
ful that  so  much  trouble  has  been  apparently  taken, 
and  pleased  that  the  effort  has  been  crowned  with  so 
much  success.  Bui  for  an  occasional  sentence  of  this 
description,  you  are  presented  with  paragraphs  and 
pages  of  profound  but  transparent  writing,  rolling  on- 
ward with  the  majestic  and  uninterrupted  progress  of 
a  river.  His  style,  probably,  never  knew  the  puerili- 
ties of  a  juvenile  writer,  never  exhibited  marks  of 
carelessness,  nor  of  mere  attempt.  Its  faults,  like  its 
beauties,  are  those  of  a  writer  not  to  be  deterred  from 
embodying  the  most  impalpable  ideas,  and,  at  the 
same  time,  determined,  as  far  as  language  can  go,  to 
be  understood  and  felt.  It  is  a  style  which  few  could 
aim  to  imitate  with  impunity,  but  even  its  peculiarities 
are  consecrated  by  the  thought  which  they  enshrine, 
and  render  it,  probably,  the  only  adequate  representa- 
tive of  the  mind  which  created  them. 

From  these  remarks  it  must  be  evident  that  our  au- 
thor is  not  to  be  consulted  for  light  reading.  If  taken 
up,  and  glanced  at  cursorily,  the  eye  may  trace,  page 
after  page,  with  as  little  mental  advantage  as  would  be 
derived  from  allowing  it  to  wander  over  the  same 
space  occupied  by  bieroglyphics  ; —  it  might  recognise 
most  of  the  signs,  but  to  understand  the  things  signifi- 
ed requires  the  application  of  the  mind.  But,  in  the 
present  day,  when  so  many  aim  to  furnish  not  only 
"  reading  made  easy,"  but  thinking  likewise,  the  ma- 
jority of  readers  would  probably  discard  our  author  as 
imposing  on  them  too  severe  a  condition.  He  requires 
attention ;  but  he  employs  no  artifice  to  beguile  them 
into  it.  They  must  knit  their  forehead  at  the  very 
first  sentence,  and  preserve  their  gravity  unrelaxed  till 
they  have  reached  the  last.  His  vein  of  thought 
may  be  unusually  rich,  but  it  lies  too  far  beneath  the 
surface  for  their  resolution  to  follow  him.  They 
might  stay  above,  for  a  short  time,  in  the  hope  of 
catching  a  few  indistinct  sounds  from  the  depths  be- 
low, but  wearied  with  the  unusual  effort  of  attention, 
they  would  soon  imagine  he  was  bewildered  and  lost, 
and  leave  him  to  his  fate. 


AS    A    WRITER.  281 

Whatever  estimate,  however,  might  be  formed  of 
our  author  by  a  great  proportion  of  mere  readers,  if 
original  combination  of  thought,  and  striking  illustra- 
tions, and  a  complete  mastery  of  his  subject,  possess 
any  merit,  he  cannot  be  perused  without  being  admir- 
ed. It  would  be  but  a  small  part  of  his  praise  to  say 
that  he  dignifies  and  illuminates  whatever  he  touches, 
or  even  that  he  frequently  surprises  and  delights  by 
his  powers  of  creation  and  discovery.  He  is  peculiar- 
ly happy  in  exercising  that  great  prerogative  of  genius 
which  renovates  the  trite,  and  invests  the  familiar  with 
interest.  The  spear  of  Ithuriel,  and  the  voice  of  him 
who  stood  in  the  valley  of  dry  bones,  seem,  in  a  figu- 
rative sense,  to  be  equally  at  his  command.  His  mind 
is  a  crucible,  in  which  the  debased  is  reduced  to  its 
elements ;  and  a  mould,  in  which  the  mutilated  and 
effaced  take  their  original  shape  and  impression.  He 
brings  to  his  subject  an  intimate  acquaintance  with  the 
various  states  of  the  human  mind,  especially  its  irreli- 
gious tastes  and  aversions.  These  he  examines  and 
amplifies  with  all  the  conscious  security  of  one  who 
knows  that  he  can  expose  and  trample  on  them  at 
pleasure.  And  after  placing  them  in  a  light  far  more 
imposing  than  the  generality  of  tfeeir  advocates  could 
place  them,  he  shows  how  completely  they  are  at  the 
mercy  of  a  powerful  mind  "  valiant  for  the  truth." 
And  then  his  peculiar  mode  of  aggravating  his  repre- 
sentations, of  torturing  his  antagonist  with  fearful 
doubts,  of  sternly  persevering  in  his  appeals  and  ques- 
tions, and  of  returning  again  and  again  to  the  subject 
with  the  same  and  even  increased  vigour  and  hostility, 
until  he  has  silenced  and  overwhelmed  him,  leaves  the 
mind  of  the  religious  reader  in  a  state  of  exulting  ad- 
miration. One  might  have  felt  satisfied  before  that 
these  tastes  and  aversions  were  irreligious,  but  the 
mind  is  delighted  that  they  can  be  so  clearly  shown  to 
be  so,  and  that  so  much  can  be  said  for  religion.  In 
short,  one  feels  a  persuasion  that  it  must  be  impossible 
ever  to  doubt  on  the  subject  again. 

Mr.   Foster  is  remarkable  for  his  illustrations.     In 


282  THE    CHARACTER    OF    JOHN    FOSTER, 

this  department  it  must  be  acknowledged  he  is  highly- 
original  and  happy.  He  lays  the  most  remote,  and 
unpromising,  and  familiar  objects,  under  contribu- 
tion with  facility  and  success.  Like  the  attendant 
spirits  of  some  potent  magician,  they  come  from  all 
elements  and  worlds  to  do  his  bidding.  His  images 
from  the  supernatural  are  especially  striking.  And, 
indeed,  there  are  numerous  indications  in  his  writings, 
that  his  imagination  is  frequent  in  its  communion 
with  the  mysterious  and  the  invisible.  He  impresses 
one  with  the  idea  that  a  mind  which  apprehends  so 
vividly  "  the  powers  of  the  world  to  come,"  will,  at 
length,  enter  that  world  as  a  scene  comparatively 
familiar, — that  he  must  be  rapidly  exhausting  its  sources 
of  wonder  by  anticipation.  Irony,  though  it  may  not 
be  a  favourite  weapon,  is  yet,  in  his  hands,  a  most 
efficient  one.  Whenever  he  employs  it,  the  reader 
may  aptly  think  of  Hercules  playing  with  his  club  ; 
or  recall  to  mind  the  scene  in  which  Sampson  made 
sport  for  the  Philistines.  And,  in  either  case,  he 
would  not  be  less  indisposed  to  smile,  than  he  would 
at  the  grave  irony  and  biting  sarcasms  of  the  author, — 
even  when  it  is  all  over.  Irony  is  a  mask,  and  when- 
ever he  puts  it  on  he  looks  terrific.  It  cannot,  and  it 
need  not,  be  concealed,  that  his  pages  are  not  unfre- 
quently  of  a  sombre  hue.  Not  that  he  is  at  all  capa- 
ble of  that  gloomy  misanthropy  which  can  gorge  itself 
only  midst  scenes  of  human  misery  ;  or  that  he  makes 
the  slightest  approach  to  that  whining  sentimentalism 
which  confounds  imaginary  with  real  evil,  and  which 
knows  nothing  of  benevolence  beyond  sighs  and  tears. 
The  peculiarity  to  which  we  allude  is  evidently  owing 
to  no  incapacity  for  enjoyment,  nor  to  any  insensibility 
to  the  value,  and  efficacy,  and  ultimate  triumph  of  that 
mighty  power  by  which  Supreme  Benevolence  can 
"  subdue  all  things  unto  itself."  It  arises  from  a  keen 
perception  of  moral  evil,  and  a  vivid  antipathy  against 
its  influence.  Hence  it  is  discoverable  principally 
when  he  is  unmasking  hypocrisy,  disenchanting  infatu- 
ation from  its  slumbers,  or  deploring  the  desperate  per- 


AS    A   WRITER.  283 

severance  with  which  sin  contends  for  its  prey,  and 
the  threatening  aspect  with  which  it  slowly  retires 
from  the  conflict.  On  these  topics  he  often  appears  to 
have  consulted  the  roll  of  Ezekiel,  and  to  Kave  caught 
"  the  spirit  and  power  of  Elias." 

In  closing  these  remarks,  allow  me,  reader,  to  inti- 
mate that  many  of  them  are  especially,  though  not 
exclusively,  applicable  to  the  Essay  which  Mr.  Foster 
has  given  to  the  public  as  introductory  to  "  Doddridge's 
Rise  and  Progress  of  Religion  in  the  Soul."  If  you 
wish  to  enjoy  a  high  intellectual  and  religious  treat, 
read  that  Essay.  And  if  your  religious  concern  be 
not  increased,  and  your  principles  fortified,  by  the 
perusal,  you  will  be  free  to  confess  that  the  blame 
rests  not  with  the  author. 


MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  HARRIS. 


Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Harris,  bom  July  19th,  1815^ 
was  the  daughter  of  W.  Wrangham,  Esq.,  of  Epsom, 
Surry.  Characterized  from  childhood  by  great  docility 
and  affectionateness  of  disposition,  and  attending  the 
public  means  of  grace,  she  early  became  the  subject 
of  that  Divine  teaching  which  maketh  wise  unto  salva- 
tion. As  soon  as  her  great  self- diffidence  would  permit, 
she  became  a  member  of  the  congregational  church  at 
Epsom,  then  under  the  pastoral  care. of  him  who,  in 
July,  1838,  had  the  happiness  of  becoming  her  hus- 
band. 

Up  to  the  period  of  her  marriage,  she  had  been,  for  a 
considerable  time,  the  devoted  teacher  of  a  class  of 
children  in  the  Epsom  chapel  Sunday  school ;  meet- 
ing them  regularly  and  punctually  twice  every  Lord's 
day.  Her  love  for  the  young  induced  her  to  take  a 
lively  interest  in  every  thing  which  related  to  their 
welfare  ;  and,  on  her  removal  to  Cheshunt,  gladly 
would  she  have  resumed,  had  circumstances  permit- 
ted, her  favourite  occupation  in  the  duties  of  a  Sunday 
school. 

The  quiet  and  even  tenor  of  her  wedded  life,  and 
the  cheerful  equanimity  of  her  temper,  prevented  the 
occurrence  of  any  thing  calcuated  to  move  and  to 
strike  by  the  recital ;  but,  for  the  same  reason,  her  sud- 
den departure  will  be  felt  most  deeply  and  permanent- 
ly by  those  who  knew  her  best.  Her  presence  was 
ever  felt  like  that  of  the  quiet  dew  and  the  cheerful 
light — simply  by  the  sunny  enjoyment  which  it  dif- 
fused around.  Entirely  unconscious  of  her  own  at- 
tractiveness, she  was  content  simply  with  not  having 
wounded  or  offended,  where  at  the  very  time  she  was 


286  MEMOIR    OF    MRS.    HARRIS. 

exciting  the  strongest  esteem  ;  and  yet  was  she  ever 
ready  to  point  out  and  enlarge  on  the  excellences  of 
those  with  whom  she  mingled  :  in  '  lowliness  of  mind 
esteeming  others  better  than  herself.'  Transparent  as 
the  day,  she  was  confided  in  as  soon  as  seen ;  for  to 
see  her,  was  to  know  her ; — and  warm  in  her  affec- 
tions, she  lived  and  moved  in  the  happy  little  circle  of 
which  she  formed  a  part,  only  to  love  and  to  be  loved. 

But  it  was,  as  it  ought  to  be,  in  the  sphere  of  domes- 
tic life  that  she  appeared  to  the  greatest  advantage ; 
finding  in  its  ordinary  duties  scope  for  the  practice  of 
many  virtues,  and  in  its  ever-recurring  scenes  a  variety 
and  freshness  of  pleasure  which  promised  never  to  be 
exhausted.  If,  like  Martha,  she  was  ever  careful  (not 
troubled)  about  many  things,  it  was  only  that  after- 
wards, like  Mary,  she  might  sit  in  quiet  at  the  feet  of 
Christ.  Most  truly  might  it  be  said  that  the  Bible  was 
her  favourite  book.  Often  would  she  sit  perusing  it  by 
the  hour  together ;  and,  on  the  Lord's-day,  for  hours ; 
breaking  silence  only  to  ask  a  question  on  the  subject 
of  her  reading,  or  rising  only  to  consult  a  Commentary. 

For  some  months  previous  to  the  event  which  occa- 
sioned her  death,  she  had  entertained  the  apprehension 
of  its  fatal  termination.  Her  habitual  cheerfulness, 
however,  wasbut  little,  if  at  all,  affected  by  the  antici- 
pation. In  patience  she  possessed  her  soul.  The 
principal  effect  appeared  to  be,  the  more  rapid  devel- 
opment of  her  character,  intellectual  and  religious. 
Especially  was  this  apparent  in  her  deepening  concern 
or  the  welfare  of  those  around  her ;  a  concern  which 
showed  itself  at  times,  when  in  conversation  respect- 
ing them,  in  tears,  lest  they  should  be  neglecting  the 
great  salvation.  In  the  prospective  usefulness  of  the 
newly-formed  society  of  which  she  was  treasurer,  she 
felt  much  delight.  Her  last  act,  on  the  evening  prior 
to  her  dissolution,  was  to  arrange  the  little  details  of 
her  office.  Whatsoever  of  this  kind  her  hands  found 
to  do,  she  did  it  with  all  her  might. 

On  the  Lord's-day  morning  she  was  occupied  in  the 
perusal  of  the  word  of  God,  and  of  a  volume  of  dis- 


MEMOIR    OF    MRS.    HARRIS.  287 

courses  by  Mr.  Binney,  on  "  The  Practical  Power  of 
Faith,"  by  which  she  expressed  herself  unusually  pleas- 
ed and  benefitted.  About  six  o'clock  in  the  evening, 
though  the  hour  of  "  travail"  evidently  approached,  she 
begged  me  not  to  absent  myself  from  the  house  of 
God,  on  her  account ;  but  desired,  that  if  an  interval  of- 
fered, I  would  read  the  Scriptures  and  offer  prayer  with 
her  after  my  return.  By  a  little  after  eight,  however, 
she  had  given  birth  to  a  fine  little  girl ;  and  on  my 
approaching  her,  at  her  request,  and  saying,  "  God  has 
been  very  good,  my  love,  in  bringing  you  through  the 
crisis,  so  quickly  and  safely  ;"  ''  Oh,  yes,"  said  she, 
"  never  shall  I  be  able  to  be  sufiiciently  grateful  for  his 
goodness."  Little,  at  that  moment,  did  she  herself,  or 
any  one  around  her,  expect  that  she  was  so  soon  to  be 
transported  to  that  blessed  state  where  gratitude  finds 
the  harp  and  the  voice  which  on  earth  it  had  wanted  to 
pour  itself  forth  in  an  adequate  song  of  praise.  Be- 
tween three  and  four  hours  after — hours  of  agony — 
agony  borne  with  uncomplaining  patience — but  agony 
which  exhausted  her  vital  powers — she  suddenly^and 
peacefully,  with  a  smile  on  her  face,  sunk  into  the 
sleep  of  death.  "  So,"  in  the  language  of  a  hymn  which 
she  was  admiring  the  Lord's-day  evening  before — 

"  So  fades  a  summer  cloud  away  ; 
So  sinks  the  gale  when  storms  are  o'er  ; 
So  gently  shuts  the  eye  of  day  j 
So  dies  a  wave  along  the  shore." 

Numerous  and  affecting  are  the  lessons  which  this 
Divine  dispensation  conveys.  But  it  is  not  for  the  hand 
which  has  traced  these  lines,  to  point  out  those  lessons 
to  others,  at  least  for  the  present,  so  much  as  to  in- 
terpret and  take  them  to  himself.  May  the  God  under 
whose  "  mighty  hand"  he  is  now  smarting,  graciously 
help  him  in  all  humility  and  submission  so  to  do. 


[tJiriVBRSITY] 


^IFOl 


VALUABLE    WORKS 

PUBLISHED  AND  FOR  SALE  BY 

GOULD,  KENDALL  &  LINCOLN, 

|JubUsI)crs,  JSooksdkrs  U  JStationers, 
59  WASHINGTON  STREET, 

m©%T©m. 


ELEMENTS   OF  MORAL   SCIENCE. 

BY  FRANCIS  WAYLAND,   D.    D. 

Presideat  of  Brown  University,  and  Professor  of  Moral  Philosophy. 

Twenty-Fourth  Thousand. 

U3°^  This  work  has  been  extensively  and  fav orably  reviewed  in  the 
leading  periodicals  of  the  day,  and  has  already  been  adopted  as  a  clasS' 
book  in  most  of  the  collegiate,  theological,  and  academical  institutions 
of  the  country. 

"The  work  of  Dr.  Wayland  has  arisen  gradually  from  the  necessity  of 
correcting  the  false  principles  and  fallacious  reasonings  of  Paley.  It  is  a 
radical  mistake,  in  the  education  of  youth,  to  permit  any  book  to  be  used 
by  students  as  a  text- book,  which  contain  erroneous  doctrines,  especially 
when  these  are  fundamental,  and  tend  to  vitiate  the  whole  system  of 
morals.  We  have  been  greatly  pleased  with  the  method  which  President 
Wayland  has  adopted:  he  goes  back  to  the  simplest  and  most  fundamental 
principles;  and,  in  the  statement  of  his  views,  he  unites  perspicuity  with 
conciseness  and  precision.  In  all  the  author's  leading  fundamental  prin- 
•ciples  we  entirely  concur." — Bib.  Rep.  and  Theol.  Review. 

From  Rev.  Wilbur  Fisk^  Pr^s.  of  the  Wesleyan  University. 

"I  have  examined  it  with  great  satisfaction  and  interest.  The  work 
was  greatly  needed,  and  is  well  executed.  Dr.  Wayland  deserves  the 
grateful  acknowledgments  and  liberal  patronage  of  the  public.  I  need  say 
nothing  further  to  express  my  high  estimate  of  the  work,  than  that  we 
shall  immediately  adopt  it  as  a  text-book  in  our  university." 

From  Hon.  James  Kent,  late  Chancellor  of  New  York. 

"The  work  has  been  read  by  me  attentively  and  thoroughly,  and  I  think 
very  highly  of  it.  Theauthor  himself  is  one  of  the  most  estimable  of  men, 
and  I  do  not  know  of  any  ethical  treatise,  in  which  our  duties  to  God,  and 
to  our  fellow-men,  are  laid  down  with  more  precision,  eim.plicity,  clear- 
ness, energy,  and  truth." 

"This  is  a  new  work  on  morals,  for  academic  use,  and  we  welcome  It 
with  much  satisfaction.  It  is  the  result  of  several  years*  reflection  and 
experience  in  teaching,  on  the  partof  its  justly  distinguished  author;  and  if 
it  is  not  perfectly  what  we  could  wish,  yet,  in  the  most  important  respects, 
it  supplies  a  want  which  has  been  extensively  felt.  It  is,  we  think,  sub- 
stantially sound  in  its  fundamental  principles;  and  being  comprehensive 
and  elementary  in  its  plan,  and  adapted  to  the  purposes  of  instruction,  it 
will  be  gladly  adopted  by  those  who  have  for  a  long  time  been  dissatisfied 
with  the  existing  works  of  Paley."— Z/t7.  and  Theol.  Review. 

A  1    ' 


THE  ELEMEJMTS  OF 

MORAL   SCIENCE,  ABRIDGED. 

ADAPTED  TO  THE  USE  OF  SCHOOLS  AND  ACADEMIES. 

Eighteenth  Thousand, 

J13— The  attention  of  Teachers  and  School  Committees  is  invited  to 
this  valuable  work.  It  has  received  the  unqualified  approbation  of  all 
who  have  examined  it;  and  it  is  believed  to  be  admirably  adapted  to 
exert  a  wholesome  influence  on  the  minds  of  the  young,  and  lead  to  the 
formation  of  correct  moral  principles. 

'•  Dr.  Wayland  has  published  an  abridgment  of  his  work  for  the  use  of 
schools.  Of  this  step  we  can  hardly  speak  too  highly.  It  is  more  than 
time  that  the  study  of  Moral  Philosophy  sheuld  be  introduced  into  all  our 
institutions  of  education.  We  are  happy  to  see  the  way  so  auspiciously 
opened  for  such  an  introduction.  It  has  been  **  not  merely  abridged,  but 
also  re-written."  We  cannot  but  regard  the  labor  as  all  well  bestowed. 
The  difficulty  of  choosing  words  and  examples  so  as  to  make  them  intel- 
ligible and  interesting  to  the  child,  is  very  great.  The  success  with 
"Which  Dr.  Wayland  appear^!  to  have  overcome  it,  is,  in  the  highest  degree, 
gratifying." — North  American  Review. 

**  We  speak  that  we  do  know,  when  we  express  our  high  estimate  of 
Dr.  Way  land's  ability  in  teaching  Moral  Philosophy;  whether  orally  or 
by  the  book.  Having  listened  to  his  instructions,  in  this  inieresting  de- 
partment, we  can  attest  how  lofty  are  the  principles,  how  exact  and  severe 
the  argumentation,  how  appropriate  and  strong  the  illustrations  which 
characterize  his  system  and  enforce  it  on  the  mind." — Chr.  Witness. 

"The  work  of  which  this  volume  is  an  abridgment,  is  well  known  as 
one  of  the  best  and  most  corinplete  works  on  Moral  Philosophy  extant, — 
and  is  in  a  fair  way  of  superseding  Paley,  as  a  text-book  in  our  higher 
seminaries.  The  author  is  well  known  as  one  of  the  most  profound  schol- 
ars of  the  age.  That  the  study  of  Moral  Science,  a  science  which  teaches 
goodness,  should  be  a  branch  of  education,  not  only  in  our  colleges,  but  in 
our  schools  and  academies,  we  believe  will  not  be  denied.  The  abridge- 
ment of  this  work  seems  to  us  admirably  calculated  for  the  purpose,  and 
we  hope  it  will  be  extensively  applied  to  the  purposes  for  which  it  is  in- 
tended. " — Mercantile  Journal. 

"So  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  examine  the  two  works  of  Dr.  Way- 
land,  we  must  say.  that  we  are  quite  as  well  pleased  with  the  smaller  as 
with  the  larger.  The  work,  the  author  himself  says,  has  been  not  merely 
abridged,  it  has  been  re-ioritten.  It  is  written  in  a  style  well  suited 
to  the  comprehension  of  youth.  The  illustrations  are  apt  and  sirikinif. 
The  work  is  divided  into  short  chapters,  as  it  should  be.  to  suit  for  a  class 
book  for  the  young.  Ilach  chapter  is  followed  by  questions  for  the  aid  of 
the  teacher,  rather  than  for  the  learner."—  Chr.  Sccretari/,  Hartford. 

"We  hail  the  abridgment  as  admiiably  adapted  to  supply  the  deficiency 
which  has  long  been  felt  in  common  school  education,— the  study  of  moral 
obligation.  Let  the  child  early  he  taught  lb*;  relaticns  it  sustains  to  man 
and  to  its  Maker,  the  first  acquainting  it  with  the  duties  owed  to  society, 
the  second  with  the  duties  owed  to  God,  and  who  can  foretell  how  many 
a  sad  and  disastrous  overthrow  of  character  will  be  prevented,  and  how 
elevated  and  pure  will  be  the  sense  of  integrity  and  virtue?"— £re.  Guz. 

"  It  is  a  work  of  the  highest  and  purest  order  of  intellect.  It  is  meta- 
physics reduced  to  practical  common  sense,  and  made  subservient  to 
Christianity.  The  original  work  has  acquired  for  its  profouj^d  and  philo- 
sophicauthor,alareeaddiiionio  the  intellectual  reputation,  and  the  abridg- 
ment, which  is  entirely  re-written,  compresses  the  whole  substance  in  a 
duodecimo  of  240  pages,  judiciously  adapted  to  common  understandings. 
Jt  would  be  a  valuable  addition  to  our  high  schools."— iJatVv  Advocate. 


ELEMENTS  OF  POLITICAL  ECONOMY. 

BY   FRANCIS  WAYLAND,   D,    D, 

Tenth  Thousand. 

rr3="  TViis  work  is  adopted  as  a  text-book  in  many  of  our  principal 
Colleges,  and  has  an  extensive  sale. 

Extract  from  the  Preface. 

*'  His  object  hag  been  to  write  a  book,  which  any  one  who  chooses  may 
undarstanj.  Ha  has,  therefore,  labored  to  express  the  general  principles 
in  the  plainest  manner  possible,  and  to  illustrate  them  by  cases  with 
which  every  person  is  familiar.  It  has  been  to  the  author  a  source  of  re- 
gret, that  the  course  of  discussion  in  the  followin?  passes,  has  unavoidably 
lud  him  over  ground  which  has  frequently  been  the  arena  of  pol'tical  con- 
traversy.  In  all  such  cas^.s,  he  has  endeavored  to  stale  what  seemed  to 
him  to  be  truth,  without  fear,  favor,  or  affection.  He  is  c  mscious  to 
himself  of  no  bias  towards  any  party  whatever,  and  he  thinks  that  he  who 
will  read  the  whole  work,  will  be  convinced  that  he  has  been  influenced 
by  none." 

THE  ET.EMENTS  OF 

POLITICAL    ECONOMY,   ABRIDGED. 

ADAPTED  TO  THE  USE  OF  SCHOOLS  AND  ACADEMIES. 

Fifth  Thousand. 

The  swcces<i  which  has  attended  the  abridgment  of  '*  TVie  Elements 
of  Moral  Science."  ha-i  induced  the  author  to  prepare  the  following 
ahridgmmt  of  "  The  Elements  of  Political  Economy."  In  this  case, 
as  in  the  other,  the  work  has  been  wholly  re-written^  and  an  attempt  has 
been  mide  to  adxpt  it  to  the  attainments  of  youth. 

"The  oris;inal  work  of  the  author,  on  Political  Economy,  has  already 
been  noticed  on  our  pa?es;  and  the  present  abridgment  stands  in  no 
need  of  a  recommendation  from  us.  We  may  be  permitted,  however, 
to  say,  thit  both  the  rising  and  risen  generations  are  deeply  indebted  to 
Dr.  NVayland,  for  the  skill  and  power  he  has  put  forth  to  bring  a  highly 
impirtant  subjict  distinctly  before  them,  within  such  narrow  limits. 
Thonsfh  "abridged  for  the  use  of  academies."  it  deserves  to  be  introduced 
into  every  private  family,  and  to  be  studied  by  every  man  who  has  an 
interest  in  the  wealth  and  prosperity  of  his  country.  It  is  a  subject  little 
understood,  even  practically,  by  thousands,  and  still  less  understood  theo- 
retically. It  Is  to  be  hopjid,  this  will  form  a  class-book,  and  be  faithfully 
studied  In  our  academies;  and  that  it  will  find  its  way  into  every  family 
library;  not  there  to  be  shut  up  unread,  but  to  aff(»rd  rich  material  for 
thou'^ht  aid  discussion  in  the  family  circle.  It  is  fitted  to  enlarge  the 
mind,  to  purify  the  judgment,  to  correct  erroneous  popular  impressions, 
and  assist  every  man  in  forming  opinions  of  public  measures,  which  will 
abide  the  test  of  time  and  experience." — Boston  Recorder. 

"  A.a  abridgment  of  this  clear,  common  sense  work,  designed  for  the 
use  of  academies,  is  just  published.  We  rejoice  to  see  such  treatises 
spreading  among  the  people:  and  we  urge  all  who  would  be  intelligent 
freemen,  to  read  them."— .Veu?  York  Transcript. 

*'  We  can  say,  with  safely,  that  the  topics  are  well  selected  and  ar- 
ranged; that  the  author's  name  Is  a  guarantee  for  more  than  usual  excel- 
lence.    We  wish  it  an  extensive  circulation." — New  York  Observer. 

*'  It  is  well  adapted  to  high  sch  )ols,  and  embraces  the  soundest  system  of 
repui!icai  Pjlitical  Economy  of  any  treatise  extant." — Daily  Advocate, 

3 


CLASS  BOOK  OF  MTTJRAL  THEOLOGY; 

Or,  the  Testimony  of  Nature  to  the  Being,  Perfections,  and  Government 

of  God.  By  Rev.  Henry  Fergus.  Revised,  enlarged,  and  adapted 

to  Paxton's  Illustrations;  with  Notes,  selected  and  original, 

Biographical  Notices,  and  a  Vocabulary  of  Scientific 

Terms.    By  Rev.  Charles  Henry  Alden,  A.  M., 

Principal  of  the  Philadelphia  High  School 

for  Young  Ladies.     Third  edition. 

"  We  are  glad  to  see  this  work  of  Fergus  brought  before  the  public  with 
advantages  likely  to  engage  attention,  and  swre  to  promote  its  usefulness. 
We  are  e  pecially  pleased,  that  this  has  been  done  by  one  whose  reputation 
and  devotion  in  the  cause  of  female  education  will  be  a  sufficient  recom- 
mendation of  it  to  those  whom  it  seems  to  have  been  his  particular  design 
to  benefit.  A  growing  attention  to  this  branch  of  education,  and  consid- 
erable improvements  in  it,  have  of  late  appeared.  The  book,  as  now  pre- 
sented, is  better  fitted  for  a  class-book  on  natural  theology,  than  any  with 
which  we  are  acquainted.  The  style  of  it  is  free  and  easy,  yet  concise, 
and  withal  exceedingly  chaste  and  classical, — the  production  of  a  well-dis- 
ciplined, well-stored,  and  pure  mind.  The  author  treats  of  the  origin  of 
the  world,  the  evidences  of  design  in  nature,  the  perfections  of  the  Deity. 
These,  and  his  various  topics,  are  illustrated  by  Paxton's  admirable  plates, 
heretofore  published  in  connection  with  Dr.  Paley's  work  on  the  same 
subject.  These,  together  with  the  notes  and  explanations  of  the  American 
editor,  are  important  additions,  and  contain  much  valuable  information. 
Besides  these,  there  is  inserted  a  lecture  by  Dr.  Mitchell,  of  Philadelphia, 
on  "the  wisdom  of  God  in  the  formation  of  water,"  which  is  consonant 
with  the  general  spirit  of  the  work,  and  abounds  in  wise  and  happy  re- 
flections."— Episcopal  Recorder. 

"The  general  plan  of  the  work  is  excellent,  and  the  details,  so  far  as  we 
can  judge,  are  good.  We  take  a  delight  in  running  our  eye  over  such  a 
work  as  this;  it  reconciles  us  with  our  lot,  and  vindicates  "the  v\ays  of 
God  to  man."  It  serves  to  awaken  curiosity  in  the  young  student,  to 
extend  and  gratify  inquiry,  and  to  lead  him  from  the  objects  of  creation 
around  him,  "to  him  in  whom  we  live  and  move,  and  have  our  being." 
It  is  a  most  admirable  study  for  schools.  *  The  proper  study  of  mankind 
is  man.'"— LT:  S.  Gazette. 

"We  do  not  hesitate  to  pronounce  the  work  one  of  the  best  class  books 
we  have  examined.  It  must  have  an  extensive  sale."— Jovrttal  of  Belies 
Lettres. 

THOUGHTS 

ON  THE  PRESENT  COLLEGIATE  SYSTEM  IN  THE  U.  S. 

BY  FRANCIS  WAYLAND,   D.  D, 

"These Thoughts  come  from  a  source  entitled  to  very  respectful  atten- 
tion; and  as  the  author  goes  over  the  whole  ground  of  collegiate  education, 
criticising  freely  all  the  arrangements  in  every  tlepanment  and  in  all  their 
bearings,  the  book  is  very  full  of  matter.  We  hope  it  will  prove  the  begin- 
ning of  a  thorough  discussion.  It  is  a  noticeable  fact,  that  none,  or  next 
to  none,  of  the  reforms  that  have  been  attempted  in  some  of  our  collfises 
within  fifteen  or  twenty  years,  have  succeeded.  '  Yet  the  public  mind  is 
not  very  easy  on  the  subject ;  Dr.  Wayland  is  not  satisfied ;  and  the  minds 
of  other  gentlemen  similarly  situated,  are  in  like  position." 

4 


YOUNG  LADIES'  CLASS  BOOK; 

A  Selection  of  Lessons  for  Reading  in  Prose  and  Verse. 

By  Ebenezer  Bailey,  A.  M.,  Principal  of 

ihe  Young  Ladies'  Higli  School,  Boston. 

Twenty-third  Stereotype  Edition, 

From  the  Principals  of  the  Public  Schools  for  Females^  Boston. 
"Gentlemen; — We  have  examined  the  Young  Ladies'  Class  Book 
with  interest  and  pleasure;  with  interest,  because  we  have  felt  the  want 
of  a  Reading  Book  expressly  designed  for  the  use  of  females;  and  with 

fleasure,  because  we  have  found  it  well  adapted  to  supply  the  deficiency, 
n  the  selections  for  a  Reader  designed  for  boys,  the  eloquence  of  the  bar, 
the  pulpit,  and  tlie  forum,  may  be  laid  under  heavy  contribution ;  but  such 
selections,  we  conceive,  are  out  of  place  in  a  book  designed  for  females. 
We  have  been  pleased,  iherefore,  to  obserye,  that  in  the  Young  Ladies' 
Class  Book  such  pieces  are  rare.  The  high-toned  morality,  the  freedom 
from  sectarianism,  the  taste,  richness,  and  adaptation  of  the  selections, 
added  to  the  neatness  of  its  external  appearance,  must  commend  it  to  all; 
while  the  practical  teacher  will  not  fail  to  observe  that  diversity  of  style, 
together  with  those  peculiar  ,^oiw/s,  the  want  of  which,  few,  who  have 
not  felt,  know  how  to  supply.  Respectfully  yours, 

Abraham  Andrews, 
Charles  Fox, 
Barnum  Field, 
R.  G.  Parker. 

From  the  Principal  of  the  Mount  Vernon  School,  Boston. 
"I  have  examined  with  much  interest  the  Young  Ladies'  Class  Book, 
by  Mr.  Bailey,  and  have  been  very  highly  pleased  with  its  contents.  It 
is  my  intention  to  introduce  it  into  my  own  school,  as  I  regard  it  as  not 
only  remarkably  well  fitted  to  answer  its  particular  object  as  a  book  of 
exercises  in  the  art  of  elocution,  but  as  calculated  to  have  an  influence 
upon  the  character  and  conduct,  which  will  be  in  every  respect  favorable. 

Jacob  Abbott. 

From  the  Principal  of  Franklin  Seminary ^  NewMarket,  N.  H. 

"  I  have  examined  with  much  satisfaction  the  Young  Ladies'  Class  Book, 
by  Mr.  Bailey,  and  consider  it  the  best  work  of  the  kind  extant.  Such  a 
work  has  long  been  a  desideratum,  and  I  am  happy  that  it  is  so  fully  met 
in  the  present  work;  the  happy  and  judicious  selections,  indicate  the 
chaste  spirit  which  has  so  long  distinguished  its  author,  both  as  a  teacher 
and  a  scholar.  I  earnestly  desire  that  it  may  have  a  universal  patronage. 
1  have  selected  it  for  my  school,  in  preference  to  all  others. 

Yours,  with  esteem,  Amasa  Buck. 

'*The  reading  books  prepared  for  academic  use,  are  often  unsuitable  for 
females.  They  contain  pieces  too  masculine,  too  martial,  too  abstract  and 
erudite,  and  too  little  adapted  to  the  delicacy  of  the  female  taste.  "We  are 
glad,  therefore,  to  perceive  that  an  attempt  has  been  made  to  supply  the 
deficiency  ;  and  we  believe  that  the  task  has  been  faithfully  and  success 
fully  accomplished.  The  selections  are  judicious  and  chaste;  and  so  far 
as  they  have  any  moral  bearing,  appear  to  be  unexceptionable. — Educa- 
tion Reporter. 

**  We  were  never  so  struck  with  the  importance  of  having  reading  books 
for  female  schools,  adapted  particularly  to  that  express  purpose,  as  wJiile 
looking  over  the  pages  of  this  selection.  The  eminent  success  of  the  com- 
piler in  teaching  this  branch,  to  which  we  can  personally  bear  testimony, 
is  sufficient  evidence  of  the  character  of  the  work,  considered  as  a  selec- 
tion of  lessons  in  elocution;  they  are,  in  general,  admirably  adapted  to 
cultivate  the  amiable  and  gentle  traits  of  the  female  character,  as  well  ai 
to  elevate  and  improve  the  mind." — Annals  of  Education. 
A*  6 


ROMAN   ANTiaUITIES 

AND 

ANCIENT  MYTHOLOGY. 

By  C.  K.  DILLAWAY,  A.  M., 

Late  Principal  in  the  Boston  Public  Latin  School, 

Illustrated  by  elegant  Engravings. 

Sixth  edition,  improved,  ^ 

D3-This  work  is  rapidly  coming  into  use  all  over  our  country;  it  is 
already  introduced  into  most  of  our  High  Schools  and  Academies,  and 
many  of  our  Colleges.  A  new  and  beautiful  edition  has  just  been 
published. 

From  the  Boston  Education  Reporter. 

"The  want  of  a  cheap  volume,  embracing  a  succinct  account  of  ancient 
customs,  together  with  a  view  of  classical  mythology,  has  lone  been  felt. 
To  the  student  of  a  language,  some  knowledge  of  the  manners,  habits,  and 
religious  feelings  of  the  people  whose  language  is  studied,  is  indispensably 
requisite.  This  knowledge  is  seldom  to  be  obtained  without  tedious  re- 
search or  laborious  investigation.  Mr.  Dillaway 'shook  seems  to  have  been 
prepared  with  special  reference  to  the  wants  of  those  who  are  just  entering 
upon  a  classical  career;  and  we  deem  it  but  a  simple  act  of  justice,  to  say, 
that  it  supplies  the  want,  which,  as  we  have  before  said, has  long  been  felt. 
In  a  small  duodecimo,  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  pages,  he  concen- 
trates the  most  valuable  and  interesting  particulars  relating  to  Roman 
antiquity;  together  with  as  full  an  account  of  heathen  mythology  as  is 
generally  needed  in  our  highest  seminaries.  A  peculiar  merit  of  this  com- 
pilation, and  one  which  will  gain  it  admission  into  our  highly  respectable 
female  seminaries,  is  the  total  absence  of  all  allusion  even  the  most  re- 
mote, to  the  disgusting  obscenities  oi  ancient  mythology;  while,  at  the 
same  time,  nothing  is  omitted  which  a  pure  mind  would  feel  interested  to 
know.  We  recommend  the  book  as  a  valuable  addition  to  the  treatises  in 
our  schools  and  academies." 

From  Ebenezer  Bailey,  Principal  of  the  Young  Ladies^  High  School, 
Boston. 

"Having  used  Dillawat/'s  Roman  Antiquities  and  Ancient  Mythology 
Sn  my  school  for  several  years,  I  commend  it  to  teachers,  with  great  confi- 
dence, as  a  valuable  text-book  on  those  interesting  branches  of  education. 

E.  Bailey. 

"We  well  remember,  in  the  days  of  our  pupilage,  how  unpopular  as  a 
study  was  the  volume  of  Roman  Antiquities  introduced  in  the  academic 
course.  It  wearied  on  account  of  its  prolixity,  filling  a  thick  octavo,  and 
was  the  prescribed  task  each  afternoon  for  a  long  three  months.  It  was 
reserved  for  one  of  our  Boston  instructers  to  apply  the  condensing  appara- 
tus to  this  mass  of  crudities,  and  so  to  modernize  the  antiquities  of  the 
old  Romans,  as  to  make  a  befitti  ng  abridgment  for  schools  of  the  first  order. 
Mr.  Dillaway  has  presented  such  a  compilation  as  must  be  interesting  to 
lads,  and  become  popular  as  a  text-book.  Historical  facts  are  staled  with 
great  simplicity  and  clearness;  the  most  important  points  are  seized  upon, 
while  trifling  peculiarities  are  passed  unnoticed,'* — American  Traveller 

6 


BLAKE'S  PIRST  BOOK  IN  ASTRONOMY. 

Designed  for  the  Use  of  Common  Schools.    By  Rev.  J.  L.  Blake,  D.  D. 

Illustrated  by  Steel-Plate  Engravin;s:s. 

From  E.  Hinckley,  Prof,  of  Mathematics  in  Maryland  University* 

"I  am  much  indebted  to  you  for  acopy  of  the  First  Boole  in  Astronomy. 

It  is  a  work  of  utility  and  merit,  far  superior  to  any  oiher  which  I  have 

seen.    The  aulhor  has  selected  his  topics  with  great  judgment, — arranged 

them  in  admirable  order, — exhibited  them  in  a  style  and  manner  at  once 

tasteful  and  philosophical.    Nothing  seems  wanting,— nothing  redundant. 

It  is  truly  a  very  beautiful  and  attractive  book,  calculated  to  afford  both 

pleasure  and  profit  to  all  who  may  enjoy  the  advantage  of  perusing  it. 

E.  Hinckley. 

From  B.  Field,  Principal  of  the  Hancock  School,  Boston. 
"I  know  of  no  other  work  on  Astronomy,  so  well  calculated  to  interest 
and  instruct  young  learners  in  this  sublime  science." 

From  James  F.  Gould,  A.  M.  Principal  of  the  High  School  for  Young 
Ladies,  Baltimore,  Md. 
•'I  shall  introduce  your  First  Book  in  Astronomy  into  my  Academy  in 
September.    I  consider  it  decidedly  superior  to  any  elementary  work  of 
the  kind  I  have  ever  seen.  James  F.  Gould. 

From  Isaac  Foster,  Instructer  of  Youth,  Portland, 
"\  have  examined  Blake's  First  Book  in  Astronomy,  and  am  much 
pleased  with  it.  A  very  happy  selection  of  topics  is  presented  in  a  manner 
which  cannot  fail  to  interest  the  learner,  while  the  questions  will  assist 
him  materially  in  fixing  in  the  memory  what  ought  to  be  retained.  It 
leaves  the  most  intricate  parts  of  the  subject  for  those  who  are  able  to 
master  them,  and  brings  before  the  young  pupil  only  what  can  be  made 
intelligible  and  interesting  to  him.  Isaac  Foster. 

"The  illustrations,  both  pictorial  and  verbal,  are  admirably  intelligible; 
and  the  definitions  are  such  as  to  be  easily  comprehended  by  juvenile 
scholars.  The  author  has  interwoven  with  his  scientific  instructions 
much  interesting  historical  information,  and  contrived  to  dress  his  phi- 
losophy in  a  garb  truly  attractive." — N.  Y.  Daily  Evening  Journal. 

"  We  are  free  to  say,  that  it  is,  in  our  opinion,  decidedly  the  best  work 
we  have  any  knowledge  of,  on  the  sublime  and  interesting  subject  of 
Astronomy.  The  engravings  are  executed  in  a  superior  style,  and  the 
mechanical  appearance  of  the  book  is  extremely  prepossessing.  The 
knowledge  imparted  is  in  language  at  once  chaste,  elegant  and  simple, — 
adapted  to  the  comprehension  of  those  for  whom  It  is  designed.  The 
subject-matter  is  selected  witli  great  judgment,  and  evinces  uncommon 
industry  and  research.  We  earnestly  hope  that  parents  and  teachers  will 
examine  and  judge  for  themselves,  as  we  feel  confident  they  will  coincide 
with  us  in  opinion.  We  only  hope  the  circulation  oi  the  work  will  be 
commensurate  with  its  merits." — Boston  Evening  Gazette. 

"  We  do  not  hesitate  to  recommend  it  to  the  notice  of  the  superintend- 
ing committees,  teachers,  and  pupils  of  our  public  schools." — State  Her- 
aid,  Portsmouth,  N,  H, 

^  *•  This  neat  and  prepossessing  little  volume  comprehends  all  the  requi- 
sites of  a  good  book, — such  a  book  as  may  safely  be  put  into  the  hands  of 
children  with  advantage.'  The  diction  is  chaste  and  pure,  the  subject 
matter  selected  with  great  judgment,  and  the  language  is  peculiarly 
adapted  to  the  comprehension  of  the  young  mind.  The  introduction  of 
it  into  our  schools  generally,  will,  we  believe,  essentially  promote  the 
cause  of  education,"— ^Sacopaj^er. 

7 


BLAKE'S  NATURAL  PHILOSOPHY. 

A   NEW   EDITION,   ENLARGED. 

Being  Conversations  on  Philosophy,  with  the  addition  of  Explanatory 
Notes,  Questions  for  Examination,  and  a  Dictionary  of  Philo- 
sophical Terms.    With  Twenty-eight  steel  engravings. 
By  the  Rev.  J.  L.  Blake,  D.  D. 

?I3°^ Perhaps  no  work  has  contributed  so  much  as  this  to  excite  a  fond- 
ness for  the  study  of  Natural  Philosophy  in  youthful  minds.  The  familiar 
comparisons  with  which  it  abounds,  awaken  interest,  and  rivet  the  atten- 
tion of  the  pupil.  It  is  introduced,  with  great  success,  into  the  public 
schools  in  Boston. 

From  Rev,  J.  Adams,  Pres.  of  Charleston  College,  S.  C. 
"I  have  been  highly  gratified  with  the  perusal  of  your  edition  of  Con- 
versations on  Natural  Philosophy.  The  Questions,  Notes,  and  Explana- 
tions of  Terms,  are  valuable  additions  to  the  work,  and  make  this  edition 
superior  to  any  oth»r  with  which  1  am  acquainted.  I  shall  recommend  it 
wherever  I  have  an  opportunity." 

"  We  avail  ourselves  of  the  opportunity  furnished  us  by  the  publication 
of  a  new  edition  of  this  deservedly  popular  work,  to  recommend  it,  not 
only  to  those  inslrscters  who  may  not  already  have  adopted  it,  but  also 
generally  to  all  readers  who  are  desirous  of  obtaining  information  on  the 
subjects  on  which  it  treats.  By  Ques4ions  arranged  at  the  bottom  of  the 
pages,  in  which  the  collateral  facts  are  arranged,  he  directs  the  attention 
of  the  learner  to  the  principal  topics.  Mr.  Blake  has  also  added  many 
Notes,  which  illustrate  the  passages  to  which  they  are  appended,  and  the 
Dictionary  of  Philosophical  Terms  is  a  useful  addition.— (7.  S.  Lit.  Gaz. 


PALEY'S  NATURAL  THEOLOGY;  ' 

Illustrated  by  forty  Plates,  and  Selections  from  the  Notes  of  Dr.  Paxton. 

With  additional  Notes,  original  and  selected,  for  this  edition; 

With  a  Vocabulary  of  Scientific  terms. 

Edited  by  John  Ware,  M.  D. 

"The  work  before  us  is  one  which  deserves  rather  to  be  studied,  than 
merely  read.  Indeed,  without  diligent  attention  and  study,  neither  the 
excellences  of  it  can  be  fully  di.^xovered.  nor  its  advantages  realized.  It 
is  therefore  gratifying  to  find  it  introduced,  as  atext-book,  into  the  colleges 
and  literary  institutions  of  our  country.  The  edition  before  us  is  superior 
to  any  we  have  seen,  and,  we  believe,  superior  to  any  that  has  yet  been 
published."— ^ipmV  of  the  Pilgrims. 

*'  Perhaps  no  one  of  our  author's  works  gives  greater  satisfaction  to  all 
classes  of  readers,  the  young,  and  the  old,  the  ignorant,  and  the  enlighten- 
ed. Indeed,  we  recollect  no  book  in  which  the  arguments  for  the  existence 
and  attributes  of  the  Supreme  Being,  to  be  drawn  from  his  works,  are 
exhibited  in  a  manner  more  attractive  and  more  convincing."— CAmimn 
Examiner. 

**  We  hail  the  appearance  of  Paley's  Theology  with  unfeigned  pleasure. 
No  man  is  an  atheist  ci...er  reading  the  work.  Infidelity  changes  its  char- 
acter, and  becomes  downriglit  and  wilful  opposition  to  the  truth,  after  it 
has  gone  over  the  pages  before  us.  We  recommend  to  all  young  men  who 
may  see  this  article,  to  procure  a  copy  of  it  forthwith;  we  advise  parents 
to  procure  it  for  their  sons  and  for  their  daughters." — Trumpet. 


CLASSICAL   STUDIES. 

* 

ESSAYS  ON  ANCIENT  LITERATURE  AND  ART. 

With  the  Biography  and  Correspondence  of  eminent  Philologists. 
By  Barnas  Sears,  President  Newton  Theol.  Institution, 
B.B.Edwards,  Prof.  Andover Theol.  Seminary;  and 
'  C.  U.  Felton,  Prof.  Harvard  University. 

"This  elegant  book  is  worthy  of  a  more  extended  notice  than  our  limits 
at  present  will  permit  us  to  give  it.  Great  labor  and  care  have  been  be- 
stowed upon  its  typographical  execution,  which  does  honor  to  the  Ameri- 
can press.  It  is  one  of  the  rare  beauties  of  the  page,  that  not  a  word  is 
divided  at  the  end  of  a  line.  The  mechanical  part  of  the  work,  however, 
is  its  least  praise.  It  is  unique  in  its  character, — standing  alone  among 
the  innumerable  books  of  this  book-making  age.  The  authors  well  deserve 
the  thanks  of  the  cultivated  and  disciplined  portion  of  the  community,  for 
the  service  whicii,  by  this  publication,  they  have  done  to  the  cause  of 
letters.  Amid  the  tideofirifluences  which  are  calculated  to  deteriorate  our 
literature,  and  degrade  the  standard  of  taste  and  learning,  we  feel  under 
great  obligiuions  to  those  who  endeavor  to  restore  the  authority  of  ac- 
knowledged models,  to  set  up  barriers  against  the  sweepings  flood  of  worth- 
less literature,  which  is  spreading  far  and  wide  its  evil  results,  and  con- 
cerning whick  our  chief  consolation  is,  that  it  is  likely  to  be  as  transitory 
as  it  is  deleterious.  The  book  is  a  plea  for  classical  learning.  While  its  fine 
introduction  and  some  of  the  essays  directly  avow  this  design,  the  corre- 
spondence of  literary  men  which  it  contains,  aims  indirectly  at  the  same 
result.  The  book  is  of  a  high  order,  and  worthy  of  the  attentive  perusal  of 
every  scholar.  It  is  a  noble  monument  to  the  taste,  and  judgment,  and 
sound  learning  of  the  projectors,  and  will  yield,  we  doubt  not,  a  rich  har- 
vest of  fame  to  themselves,  and  of  benefit  to  our  literature."— C^r.  Bev. 

"This  volume  is  no  common-place  production.  It  is  truly  refreshing, 
when  we  are  obliged  from  week  to  week  to  look  through  the  mass  of  books 
which  increases  upon  our  table,  many  of  which  are  extremely  attenuated 
in  thought  and  jejune  in  style,  to  find  somethins  which  carries  us  back 
to  the  pure  and  invigorating  influence  of  the  master  minds  of  antiquity. 
The  gentlemen  who  have  produced  this  volume  deserve  the  cordial  thanks 
of  the  literary  world.'* — New  England  Puritan. 

"This  book  will  do  good  in  our  colleges.  Every  student  will  want  a 
copy,  and  many  will  be  stimulated  by  its  perusal  to  a  more  vigorous  and 
enthusiastic  pursuit  of  that  higher  and  more  solid  learning,  which  alone 
deserves  to  be  called  'classical.'  The  recent  tendencies  have  been  to  the 
neglect  of  this,  and  we  rejoice  in  this  timely  eflfort  of  minds  so  well  quali- 
fied for  such  a  work." — Rejlector. 

"The  object  of  the  accomplished  gentlemen  who  have  engaged  in  its 
preparation  has  been,  to  foster  and  extend  among  educated  men,  in  this 
country,  the  already  growing  interest  in  classical  studies.  The  design  is 
a  noble  and  generous  one,  and  has  been  executed  with  a  taste  and  good 
sense,  that  do  honor  both  to  the  writers  and  the  publishers.  The  book 
is  one  which  deserves  a  place  in  the  library  of  every  educated  man.  To 
those  now  engaged  in  classical  study  it  cannot  fail  to  be  highly  useful, 
while  to  the  more  advanced  scholar  it  will  open  new  sources  of  interest 
and  delight  in  the  unforgolten  pursuits  of  his  earlier  days."— Prof.  Jour, 

**The  work  has  been  prepared  by  three  gentlemen  connected  with  as 
many  different  institutions,  who  seem  to  have  entered  upon  and  executed 
their  labor  con  amore  It  is  a  beautiful  example  of  the  attractive  force  of 
elegant  and  useful  literature,  overcoming  the  repelling  elements  of  what 
are  presumed  to  be  diflferent  creeds.  And  the  product  is  worthy  of  the 
sacrifice,  if  there  have  been  one.  It  is  an  elegant  and  valuable  tribute  to 
the  value  of  classical  learning.  An  introductory  essay  leaves  a  deep  im. 
pression  of  the  worth  and  use  of  classical  studies."— Portland  Mirror. 

9 


GESENIUS'  HEBREW  GRAMMAE, 

Translated  from  the  Eleventh  German  Edition.     By  T,  J.  Conant,  Prof. 

of  Hebrew  and  of  Biblical  Criticism  and  Interpretation  in  the 

Tiieol.  Institution  at  Hamilton,  N.  Y.     Witii  a  Course  of 

Exercises  in  Hebrew  Grammar,  and  a  Hebrew  Chres- 

tomathy,  prepared  by  the  Translator. 

Third  Edition. 

53°"  Special  refitrp.nce  has  heen  had  in  thf.  arrangem'int,  illustrations, 
the  addition  of  the  Course  of  Exercises,  the  Chrestomalhy,  ^'C. ,  to  adapt 
it  to  the  wants  of  thost  icho  miy  wish  to  pursue  the  study  of  Hebrew 
without  the  aid  of  a  teacher. 

Prof.  Stuart  in  an  article  in  the  Biblical  Repository,  says:— "With  such 
efforts, — such  unremitted,  unwearied,  energetic  efforts, — what  are  we  to 
expect  from  such  a  man  as  Gesenius?  Has  he  talent,  juds'ment,  tact,  as 
a  pliilologist?  Read  his  work  on  [saiah;  compare  his  Hebrew  Gframmar 
with  t  he  otlier  grammars  of  the  Hebrew  which  Germany  has  yet  produced; 
read  and  compare  any  twenty,  or  even  ten  articles  on  any  of  the  difficult 
and  important  words  in  the  Hebrew,  with  the  same  in  Buxtorff,  Cocceius, 
Stockins,  Eichhorn's  Simonis,  Winer,  even  (Parkhurst,  I  cannot  once 
name),  and  then  say  whether  Gasenius,  as  a  Hebrew  philologer,  has  talents, 
tact,  and  judgment  Nothing  but  rival  feerm?:j,or  prejudice,  or  antipathy 
to  his  theological  sentiments,  can  prevent  a  unity  of  answer." 
From  the  Hon.  Edward  Everett. 

GsxTLEMH?^, — I  am  greatly  indebted  to  you  for  a  beautiful  copy  of  the 
translation  of  Geseniu^'s  Hebrew  Grammar,  by  Prof  Conant.  Tlie  reputa- 
tion of  the  original  is  beyond  the  necessity  of  any  testimonials,  and  I  doubt 
not,  from  the  character  of  Prof.  Conant,  that  the  translation  deserves  the 
favorable  reception  which,  I  am  happy  to  see,  it  has  met  with.  As  a  spe- 
cimen of  typography,  the  work  doe:3  great  credit  to  your  press. 

Your  obliged  friend  and  servant,        Edward  Everett. 

''The  workof  Gesenius  requires  no  eulogy  from  U3:  nor  is  this  the  place 
to  enter  into  a  detailed  examination  of  his  theoretical  views  or  practical 
expisilion  of  the  struf^ture  of  the  language;  but  we  concur  with  the 
translator  in  considering  that,  as  a  philosophical  arrangement  and  ex- 
planation of  its  grammatical  phenomena,  it  has  no  equal;  and  that  it  is 
particularly  distinguished  by  a  chaste  simplicity,  and  attractive  clearness 
of  method. — quilities  which  not  only  imply  a  correct  taste  and  logical 
undirstanding,  but  evince,  also,  a  thorough  mastery  of  the  subject. 
Profissor  Gi  tant  has  rendered  a  substantial  service  to  the  cause  of  biblical 
learning,  and  done  honor  to  the  important  denomination  of  which  he  is  a 
member.  Besides  executing  with  excellent  fidelity  and  good  judgment 
his  translation  of  the  Gram  nar  of  the  great  Hebraist  of  the  age,  he  haa 
some  useful  additions  of  his  own,  and  has,  in  numerous  instances,  cor- 
rected mistakes  of  a  too  common  class,  which,  if  they  give  little  trouble 
to  some  readers,  are  the  worst  annoyance  to  others,— Ihat  of  errors  in 
reference.  He  has  also  made  ad  litlons  of  a  very  judicious  as  well  as  moral 
character,  in  a  series  of  grammatical  Exercises.  The  typographical  exe- 
cution is  in  the  best  style  of  the  Cambridge  university  printers.  The 
letterpress  is  beautiful,  and  all  b  it  immaculate." — N.  A.  Review. 

"Professor  Conant  has  executed  his  task  with  great  ability.  He  does 
not  appear  merely  in  the  character  of  a  translator:  the  Chrestomathy  and 
Exercises  prepared  by  him  form  a  very  valuable  addition  to  the  work. 
The  latter,  especially,  are  prepared  with  great  skill  and  ability,  in  such  a 
way  as  to  lead  the  student  forward,  step  by  step,  making  him  thoroughly 
familiar  with  each  point  as  he  advances.  One  other  point  of  extreme  im- 
portance in  such  a  work,  we  must  not  fail  to  notice, — the  correctness  of  the 
printing.  And  when  we  add  that  the  typography, — at  least  the  English 
part  of  it, — is  as  beautiful  as  it  is  correct,  we  have  said  as  much  as  is 
necessary  to  recommend  the  book  to  all  sludentsof  Hebrew"— /Recorder. 


THE  FOUR   GOSPELS,  WITH  NOTES. 

Chiefly  Explanatory;  intended  principally  for  Sabbath  School  Teachers 

and  Bible  Classes,  and  as  an  Aid  to  Family  Instructioa. 

By  Henry  J.  Ripley,  Prof,  of  Sacred  Rhetoric 

and  Pastoral  Duties,  Newton  Theol.lna. 

Seventh  Edition. 

&3°*  This  work  should  be  in  the  hands  of  every  student  of  the  Bible; 

especially  every  Sabbath  school  and  Bible  class  teacher.    It  is  prepaied 

with  special  reference  to  this  class  of  persons,  and  contains  amass  of  just 

Ihe  kind  of  information  wanted. 

''The  undersigned,  having  examined  Professor  Ripley's  Notes  on  the 
Gospels,  can  recommend  lliem  with  confidence  to  all  who  need  such  helps 
in  the  study  of  the  sacred  Scriptures.  Those  passages  which  all  can 
understand  are  left 'without  note  or  comment,' and  the  principal  labor 
is  devoted  to  the  explanation  of  such  parts  as  need  to  be  explained  and 
rescued  from  the  perversions  of  errorists,  both  the  ignorant  and  the  learned. 
The  practical  suggestions  at  the  close  of  each  chapter,  are  not  the  least 
valuable  portion  of  the  work.  Most  cordially,  for  the  sake  of  truth  and 
righteousness,  do  we  wish  for  these  Notes  a  wide  circulaiiwn. 

Baron  Stow,        R.  H.  Neai.e,        R.  Turnbull, 
Daniel  Sharp,     J.  W.  Parker,      N.  Colver." 
Wm.  Hague,         R.  W.  Cushman, 
"  Professor  Ripley  has  given  us  a  specimen  of  the  right  kind  of  Com- 
mentary ;   the  Notes  are   more  strictly  explanatory  than  those  of  Mr. 
Barnes;  they  occupy  a  smaller  space;  the  style,  though  less  pointed  and 
vivacious,  exhibits  more  sobriety;   the  principles  of  interpretation  are 
more  cautiously  applied;  and  the  explanations,  particularly  on  the  sub- 
ject of  baptism,  are  more  correct." — Christian  Review. 


ACTS  OE  THE  APOSTLES,  WITH  NOTES. 

Chiefly  Explanatory.     Designed  for  Teachers  in  Sabbath  Schools 

and  Bible  Classes,  and  as  an  Aid  to  Family  Instruction* 

Ey  Prof.  Henry  J.  Ripley. 

"The  external  appearance  of  this  book, — the  bindiner  and  the  printed 
page, — '  it  is  a  pleasant  thing  for  the  eyes  to  behold.'  On  examining  the 
contents,  we  are  favorai^ly  impressed,  first,  by  the  wonderful  perspicuity, 
simplicity,  and  comprehensiveness  of  the  author's  style;  secondly,  by  the 
completeness  and  systematic  arrangement  of  the  work,  in  all  its  parts, 
the  'remarks'  on  each  paragraph  being  carefully  separated  from  the  ex- 
position ;  thirdly,  by  the  correct  theology,  solid  instruction, and  consistent 
explanations  of  difficult  passages.  The  work  cannot  fail  to  be  received 
with  favor.  These  Notes  are  much  more  full  than  the  Notes  on  the  Gospels 
by  the  same  author.    A  beautiful  map  accompanies  them." — Bojlector. 

"The  steady  and  extensive  sale  of  Ripley's  Notes  on  the  Gospels  aflTord 
g0(ul  reason  to  expect  great  popularity  for  the  present  work,  and  an  ac- 
quaintance with  both  will  induce  most  readers  to  long  for  similar  Notes  on 
the  Epistles."— A^.  Y.  Baptist  Advocate. 

"  For  those  who  desire  aid  in  understanding  and  explaining  this  portion 
of  Revelation,  and  who  have  no  access  to  larger  commentaries,  we  coidial- 
ly  recommend  this  yohxm^.^'— Baptist  Record,  Phila. 


toork©  on  BapttBm. 


THE   BAPTISMAL   QUESTION; 

Containing  Messrs.  Cooke  and  Towne's  ''Hints  to  an  Enquirer,  on 

the  subject  of  Baptism," — a  Review  of  the  "Hints,"  by  the 

Rev.  William  Hague,  with  a  "Rejoinder,"  by 

Cooke  and  Towns,  and  Mr.  Hague's 

Examination  of  the  Rejoinder. 

baptism  its  own  WITNESS; 

Or,  Reflections  suggested  by  reading  "The  Baptized  Child."    By  Rev. 
Wm.  Hague,  Pastor  of  Federal  St.  Baptist  Church,  Boston. 

JEWETT  ON  BAPTISM. 

The  Mode  and  Subjects  of  Baptism.    By  Milo  P.  Jewett,  A.  M., 

late  professor  in  Marietta  College,  and  a  licensed  minister 

of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Sixth  Thousand. 

CHRISTIAN  BAPTISM. 

An  Examination  of  Stuart's  Essay  on  Baptism.    By  H.  J.  Ripley, 
Professor  in  Newton  Theological  Institution. 

FULLER'S  DIALOGUES  ON  COMMUNION. 

Being  a  candid  and  able  Discussion  of  Strict  and  Mixed  Com- 

munion ;  to  which  is  added,  Dr.  Griffin's  Letter  on 

the  subject,  and  a  Review  of  the  same, 

by  Prof.  H.  J.  Ripley. 

Second  Edition. 

Those  Christians  who  have  read  the  writings  of  the  celebrated  Mr.  Hall 
on  this  subject,  ought  to  do  themselves  the  justice  to  peruse  these  con- 
versations by  one  of  his  church,  the  son  of  the  late  Andrew  Fuller.  The 
work  is  written  in  a  manly  style,  and  did  not  interrupt  the  affection 
which  existed  between  Mr  Hall  and  Mr.  Fuller.  This  relation  between 
the  two  writers  gives  much  interest  to  the  publication.  One  important 
trait  in  the  Dialoe:ue  is,  that  Mr  Fuller  meets  Mr.  Hall  arrayed  in  his 
own  language.  As  a  controversial  work  it  has  few  rivals,  in  regard  either 
to  Christian  spirit,  or  arsrumentative  p(»wers.  The  public  are  under  ob- 
ligations to  the  editor,  Rev.  Peter  Chase,  for  his  notes,  references,  &c., 
which  enhance  the  value  of  the  American  edition.  Prof.  Ripley's  able 
Review  of  Dr.  Griffin's  letter,  adds  intrinsic  worth  to  the  book,  which  will 
ever  remain  a  standard  volume  on  this  important  subject. 

12 


MY  PROGRESS  IN   ERROR, 

AND  RECOVERY  TO  TRUTH. 

Ob,  a  Tour  through  Universalism,  Unitarianism,  and  Skepticism. 
Second  Thousand. 
Extract  of  a  letter  from  Prof  Stuart,  Andover. 
*' Gentlemen: — I  have  received  a  copy  of  My  Progress  in  Error,'  and 
read  it  with  attention  and  much  interest.  I  take  the  liberty  to  say,  that 
in  my  judgment,  the  author  of  that  book  has  written  a  plain  and  unvar- 
nished account  of  the  operations  not  only  of  his  own  mind,  but  of  many 
others.  The  author  has  gone  through  the  whole,  without  personal  abuse 
of  any  body,  and  without  any  slanderous  insinuations.  It  seems  to  me, 
that  what  he  has  said  about  the  operations  of  Unitarian  sentiments,  he 
has  been  compelled  to  say  by  a  regard  to  truth.  In  fact,  I  regard  the 
book  as  a  remarkable  example  of  prudent  forbearance,  as  to  stigmatizing 
either  opponents  or  their  sentiments.  I  predict  it  will  be  found  fault 
with,  and  violently  attacked.  But  in  my  humble  opinion,  the  reason  of 
this  will  be,  that  the  author  has  drawn  a  true  likeness  of  so  many ;  and 
when  this  is  held  up  to  public  view,  it  is  not  a  very  pleasing  portrait. 
Who  likes  to  be  seen  in  a  forbidding  picture?  The  book  will  be  read, 
notwithstanding  newspaper  criticism ;  and  if  1  do  not  miscalculate  great- 
ly, it  will  aid  much  in  opening  the  eyes  of  the  public,  as  the  workings  and 
evasions  of  a  skeptical  spirit.    Bid  the  author  of  it  God  speed. 

"  Your  friend  and  obedient  servant,      M.  Stuart." 

Opinions  of  the  Press. 
"In  many  of  the  passages  we  almost  fancied  that  the  writer  had  been 
sketching  a  history  of  our  own  '  progress  in  error,'  so  true  is  the  history, 
and^so  similar  the  feelings  of  those  who  are  led  away  in  the  morning  of 
life,  into  the  dark  and  dreary  path  of  religious  error.  We  should  be  glad 
to  have  this  book  placed  in  the  hands  of  every  ynung  man  whose  mind  is 
unsettled  upon  the  question  of  experimental  religion,  and  especially  of 
those  who  are  trying  io  believe  the  doctrine  of  Universalism." — Chris- 
tian Secretary. 

*•  It  is  written  in  a  bold  and  comprehensive  style.  We  doubt  not  it 
will  find  numerous  readers  in  the  community,  and  may  serve  as  a  chart 
to  guide  others  in  the  progress  of  life." — American  Traveller. 

"  We  should  be  glad  if  a  copy  of  the  book  could  be  put  into  the  hands  of 
every  one  who  is  disposed  to  cavil  at  the  truth,  and  embrace  error." — 
Phil.  Baptist  Recorder. 

"In  this  work  the  author  gives  an  affecting  account  of  his  downward 
course  through  the  bewildering  mazes  of  Universalism,  Unitarlanism,  &c., 
giving  but  a  living  picture  of  the  *  progress  of  error '  of  very  many,  who 
are  almost  imperceptibly  led  on  from  one  step  to  another,  until  they  are 
lost  in  the  fearful  labyrinth  of  infidelity.  The  author  is  candid  in  his  man- 
ner, and  forcible  in  his  reasonings,  and  at  last  informs  us  of  his  being 
brought  to  a  knowledge  of  the  truth."— iST.  H.  Register. 

"The  anonymous  author  of  this  book  informs  us  that  this  is  not  a 
hasty  production,  more  than  ten  years  havin?  elapsed  since  the  last  lead- 
ing event  which  it  records  transpired;  without  his  declaration,  we  might 
have  thought  it  written  as  an  offset  to  Mr.  Brownson's  Charles  Ellwcod. 
It  is  in  fact  a  reliffious  novel,  and  as  such,  is  rather  interesting.  It  was 
to  us,  for  we  read  it  through  at  one  sitting." — Boston  Courier. 

"  It  cannot  be  doubted  that  it  is  admirably  adapted  to  a  wide-spread 
circulation,  and  salutary  influence.  Great  good  will  result  from  the  dis- 
tribution of  this  work." — Boston  Recorder^ 

B  13 


LIFE  OF  PHILIP  MELANCTHON. 

COMPKISING  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  REFORMATION. 
By  F.  A.  Cox,  D.  D.  L.L.  D. 
"This  is  a  neat  edition  of  a  work,  which  has  obtained  in  England  a 
permanent  reputation.  The  acquaintance,  which  many  in  this  country 
have  formed  with  its  author,  will  induce  them  to  read  the  book  with  in- 
creased interest.  It  is  well  written,  in  a  style,  which,  though  flowing 
and  ornate,  is  not  turgid.  It  shows  allthe  learning  which  is  appropriate 
to  the  subject,  without  an  offensive  display.  The  facts  concerning  Me- 
lancthon  are  detailed  with  clearness,  and  a  lucid  view  is  presented  of  the 
principal  personages  and  events  uf  the  age.  From  no  other  book,  within 
the  same  compass,  could  a  better  knowledge  of  the  rise  and  progress  of  the 
Reformation  be  obtained.  For  this  reason,  as  well  as  for  the  attractions 
which  belong  to  the  character  of  Melancthon,  the  book  is  valuable." — 
Christian  Review. 


ONESIMUS: 


OR,  THE  APOSTOLIC  DIRECTION  TO  CHRISTIAN  MASTERS 
IN  REFERENCE  TO  THEIR  SLAVES. 

By   EVANGELICUS. 

"We  are  glad  to  see  this  subject  presented  to  the  consideration  of 
Christians,  by  itself,  and  without  any  reference  to  oiher  questions  that 
agitate  the  public  mind;  and  we  are  glad  that  the  writer  has  confined 
himself,  in  the  argument,  so  closely  to  the  law  of  love.  The  Essay  is 
written  with  care,  and  in  a  kind  and  dispassionate  spirit ;  and  although 
it  cannot  be  expected  to  unite  the  minds  of  all  parties  either  here  or  at 
the  South,  it  is  well  calculated  to  promote,  wherever  it  is  read,  the  au- 
thor's object. —  Vermont  Chronicle. 

"  It  is  written  in  an  excellent  spirit,  with  close  logic,  and  severe  per- 
spicuity, and  is  evidently  from  a  practised  pen." — Zion's  Herald. 

"  Its  whole  spirit  and  tendency  are  the  opposite  of  the  anti-slavery  pub- 
lications, which  have  produced  so  much  evil.''—  Princeton  Reziew. 

MEMOIR  OF  ROGER  WILLIAMS, 

The  Founder  of  the  State  of  Rhode  Island. 
By  Rev.  James  D.  Knowles. 
"In  perusing  Prof.  Knowles's  Memoir  of  Roger  Williams,  the  reader 
will  find  much  of  this  beauty  of  history  to  which  we  have  alluded,  as 
combined  wiih  biography.  There  were  many  noble  trails  of  character 
in  Mr.  Williams,  which  rendered  him  the  object  of  deserved  admiration; 
such  as  his  eminent  piety,  his  acts  of  humanity  and  justice  towards  the 
Indians,  his  unbending  integrity  in  principle.  &c. — but  as  that  for  which 
he  is  most  peculiarly  the  object  of  our  admiration,  we  select  his  un- 
shaken attachment  to.  and  perseverin?  vindication  of  entire  liberty  of 
conscience  in  relieious  worship.  Mr.  Williams  was  decided  on  this  sub- 
ject The  Holy  Scriptures  wer€  the  standard  of  his  belief,  and  the  au- 
thority which  he  recognized  for  the  regulation  of  his  conscience.  The 
task  of  writing  a  memoir  of  Roger  Williams  was  by  no  means  inconsider- 
able. Professor  Knowles,  from  a  correct  apprehension  of  the  principles 
ftf  religious  liberty,  was  peculiarly  the  man  to  enter  on  this  labor.  We 
are  pleased  that  he  has  completed  it  in  an  able  manner,  and  given  as  full 
and  correct  a  delineation  of  this  gr^at  man  as  could  probably  have  been 
given  by  any  other  author  in  Europe  or  America.  The  volume  is  a  rich 
acquisition  to  the  history  of  our  country,  ranking  high  in  the  catalogue 
of  our  best  works  in  American  literature."— C/ir2sao?i  Watchman. 

14 


0abbatl)  Scfjool  Sook©. 


LIJMCOLJN'S 

SABBATH  SCHOOL  CLASS  BOOK. 

Comprising  copious  Exercises  on  the  Sacred  Scriptures.    By  E.  Lincoln. 

Revised  and  improved  by  an  eminent  Clergyman 

and  a  Superintendent. 

tO^The  present  edition  has  been  thoroughly  revised  and  enlarged  by 
gentlemen  well  qualified  for  the  task  The  book,  in  its  present  shape,  is 
one  of  the  cheapest  and  most  complete  of  the  kind  now  in  use. 

"Having  examined  your  Sabbath  School  Class  Book,  it  gives  us  pleasure 
to  express  our  satisfaction  with  its  design  and  execution.  The  great 
benefit  which  a  good  class  book  accomplishes,  consists  in  guiding  the 
mind  of  the  scholar  in  the  study  of  his  lesson,  and  in  suggesting  topics 
of  conversation  to  the  teacher.  To  this  end  we  think  your  work  is  well 
adapted,  having  avoided,  in  a  great  degree,  the  evils  of  extreme  redun- 
dance or  conciseness.  Wm.  Hague,        H.  Malcom, 

L  BoLLEs,  Baron  Stow." 

E.  Thresher, 


LINCOLN'S  SCRIPTURE  QUESTIONS. 

With  the  Answers  annexed,  giving,  in  the  language  of  the  Sacred  Volume^ 

interesting  portions  of  the  History,  and  a  concise  View  of  the 

Doctrines  and  Duties  exhibited  in  the  Bible. 

Where  Bibles  cannot  be  furnished  to  each  scholar,  the  Scripture  Ques- 
tions may  be  used  with  convenience,  as  the  answers  are  printed. 


MALCOM'S   BIBLE   DICTIONARY. 

A  Dictionary  of  the  most  important  Names,  Objects,  and  Terms,  found  in 

the  Holy  Scriptures;  intended  principally  for  Sunday  School 

Teachers  and  Bible  Classes.   By  H.  Malcom,  A.  M. 

Illustrated  by  thirty-nine  Engravings  on 

Wood,  and  a  Map  of  Palestine. 

From  the  Minutes  of  the  Vermont  State  Convention. 
"Your  Committee  earnestly  recommend  Malcom's  Bible  Dictionary, 
the  worth  of  which  every  lover  of  the  Bible  will  feel,  and  the  low  price  of 
which  places  it  within  the  reach  of  all." 

Prom  the  Minutes  of  the  Boston  Association. 
"Believing  that  the  advantages  of  Sabbath  School  and  Bible  Class  in- 
struction depend  greatly  on  the  intelligence  of  their  teachers,  and  that 
the  extended  circulation  of  Malcom's  Bible  Dictionary  would  conduce  to 
their  better  qualification.  Resolved,  That  this  work  be  recommended  to 
the  patronage  of  the  friends  of  early  religious  instruction." 


HAGUE'S  GUIDE  TO  CONVERSATION 
ON  THE  NEW  TESTAMENT. 

Designed  for  the  Use  of  Bible  Classes  and  Sabbath  Schools. 

Vol.  I,  Matthew,— Vol.  II,  John. 

By  Rev.  William  Hague. 

The  object  of  this  work  is  two-fold: — 1st.  To  facilitate  the  efforts  of 
the  teachers  in  communicating  instruction  to  their  classes:— 2d.  To  ex- 
cite a  spirit  of  inquiry  among  the  classes  themselves.  To  this  end.  such 
questions  are  asked  as  are  adapted  to  lead  the  mind  to  think,  and  only 
such  as  the  scholar,  with  the  Bible  in  his  hand,  may  be  expected  to 
answer,  by  the  aid  of  his  own  reflecting  powers.  The  questions  are  in- 
terspersed with  familiar  remarks,  which  are  designed  to  convey  to  the 
scholar  such  information  as  may  not  be  within  his  reach  and  also  to 
keep  up  a  continuous  conversation  between  the  teacher  and  the  class. 

THE  SAINT'S  EVERLASTING  REST. 

By  the  Rev.  Richard  Baxter. 

From  Bev.  Dr.  War/land,  President  of  Brown  University. 
**T  am  gratified  to  perceive  that  you  have  published  a  handsome  edition  of 
Baxter 's^Saint's  Rest.     Of  the  value  of  the  work  itself  it  is  superfluous  to 
speak.    It  has  few  equals  in  any  language.    The  ordinary  copies  are  pal- 
pably beneath  the  value  of  the  work." 

THE  IMITATION  OF  CHRIST. 

In  Three  Books.    By  Thomas  a  Kempis.    With  an  Introductory  Essay, 

by  Thomas  Chalmers,  of  Glasgow.    A  new  edition. 

Edited  by  Rev.  Howard  Malcom. 

This  work  has,  for  three  hundred  years,  been  esteemed  one  of  the  best 
practical  books  in  existence,  and  has  gone  through  a  vast  number  of 
editions,  not  only  in  the  original  Latin,  but  in  every  language  of  Europe. 
Dr.  Payson,  of  Portland,  warmly  recommended  ii,  in  a  letter  to  a  y(  ung 
clergyman.  That  the  benefit  of  the  work  may  be  universally  enjoyed, 
the  translation  of  Payne,  which  best  agrees  with  the  original,  has  been 
revised  by  Rev.  Howard  Malcom,  and  such  retrenchments  made,  as  adapt 
it  to  general  use. 

JAMES'S  CHURCH-MEMBER'S  GUIDE. 

With  an  Introductory  Essay,  by  Rev.  H.  Winslow. 
Edited  by  Rev.  J.  O.  Choules. 

Wishes  for  its  universal  circulation  are  received  by  the  Publishers 
from  ministers  and  brethren  in  every  section  of  the  country. 

A  pastor  writes,  "I  sincerely  wish  that  every  professor  of  religion  in 
the  land  may  possess  this  excellent  manual.  1  am  anxious  that  every 
member  of  my  church  should  possess  it,  and  shall  be  happy  to  promote  its 
circulation  still  more  extensively." 

A  gentleman  in  Virginia  writes:  "I  wish  every  Christian  to  possess  the 
Church-Member's  Guide." 

"The  spontaneous  effusion  of  our  heart,  on  laying  the  book  down, 
was, — may  every  church-member  in  our  land  soon  'f)ossess  this  book,  and 
be  blessed  with  all  the  happiness  which  conformity  to  its  evangelic  sen- 
timents and  directions  is  calculated  to  confer." — Christian  Secretary. 

16 


THE  BEAUTIES  OF  COLLYER. 

Selections  from  the  Theological  Lectures  of  Rev.  W.  B.  Collykr,  D.  D. 

By  Rev.  J.  O.  Choules. 

The  merits  of  Dr.  Collyer  are  thus  noticed  by  an  eminent  reviewer. — 
"His  researches,  his  various  learning,  and  accumulation  of  interesting 
facts,  his  presenting  old  and  familiar  truths  in  a  new  and  striking  man- 
ner, entitle  him  to  rank  high  as  a  theological  writer.  His  style  is  re- 
markably elegant  and  polished,  and  there  is  a  rich  vein  of  evangelical 
piety  running  through  all  his  works."  In  making  up  the  volume  from 
so  eminent  an  author,  the  editor  has  selected  those  parts  which  he  sup- 
posed would  create  habits  of  thought  in  the  Christian  community,  and 
present  a  volume  well  suited  for  the  Christian  library.  Indeed,  this  book 
contains  a  rich  treasure  of  truth  up^n  seventy  subjects,  for  all  classes  of 
readers.  It  is  well  calculated  to  give  youth  a  taste  for  reading,  as  it  is  to 
encourage  the  mature  Christian  in  his  course  of  duty,  and  to  confirm  his 
hopes  of  a  happy  immortality. 


SCRIPTURE  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

Containing  a  descriptive  account  of  Quadrupeds,  Birds,  Fishes,  Insects, 

Reptiles,  Serpents,  Plants,  Trees,  Minerals,  Gems,  and  Precious 

Stones,  mentioned  in  the  Bible.    By  Wm.  Carpenter, 

London ;  with  improvements.    By  G.  D.  Abbott. 

Illustrated  by  numerous  engravings, 

also,  Sketches  of  Palestine. 

"This  is  a  very  interesting  volume  to  general  readers  of  the  Bible. 
Mr.  Abboit  has  divested  the  work  of  its  learned  references,  and  adapted 
it  to  the  comprehension  of  all.  Mr.  Carpenter  compiled  the  work  from 
the  Natural  History  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Harris,  of  Dorchester,  Mass.,  and  very 
ungenerously  refused  to  acknowledge  his  obligations  to  the  author,  while 
he  abusfd  him  for  his  want  of  orthodoxy.  Mr.  Abbott  has  faithfully  ex- 
posed the  piracy.  We  recommend  the  volume  as  one  of  great  value. '^ — 
American  Giuarterly  Register, 


CAMPBELL  &  FENELON  ON  ELOQUENCl^. 

Campbell's  Lectures  on  Theology  and  Pulpit  Eloquence, 

and  Fenelon's  Dialogues  on  Eloquence. 

Edited  by  Prof.  H.  J.  Ripley. 

td'^'It  has  been  the  aim  of  the  editor  of  this  work  to  make  it  more 
fitted  to  students  in  this  country,  and  more  profitable  to  those  whose 
studies  have  not  extended  beyond  their  own  language.  And  he  considers 
that  these  Lectures  inculcate  the  true  mode  in  which  the  study  of  theology 
should  be  conducted.  The  excellence  of  Fenelon's  Dialogues  concerning 
Eloquence,  their  general  agreement  with  the  sentiments  of  Dr.  Camp- 
bell's Lectures,  and  their  more  ample  discussion  of  certain  topics  connect- 
ed with  preaching,  render  their  insertion  in  this  volume  quite  appropriate. 
These  dialogues  Dr.  Doddridge  has  called  "incomparable  dialogues  on 
eloquence,"  which,  he  remarks,  "may  God  put  it  into  the  hearts  of  our 
preachers  often  and  attentively  to  read  "  This  complete  volume  on  elo- 
quence has  been  noticed  by  several  periodicals,  and  recommended  to  all 
students  who  are  preparing  for  the  Christian  ministry. 

B*  17 


(Elegant  ittiniature  tJolumes. 

Gilt  Edges  and  Beautifully  Ornamented  Covers. 


DAILY  MANNA, 

FOR   CHRISTIAN   PILGRIMS. 
By  Rev.  Baron  Stow,  Pastor  of  the  Baldwin  Place  Church,  Boston. 

tl3=  This  work  contains  a  text  of  Scripture  for  each  day  in  the  year, 
with  an  analysis  of  its  contents,  and  a  verse  of  poetry, 

"  A  perfect  gem  of  a  book,  and  full  of  gems  from  the  mine  that  yields 
the  purest  and  brightest  that  are  found  in  the  world,— every  one  that  sees 
it  will  wish  to  have  the  volume." — N.  Y.  Observer. 

"This  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful,  and  beyond  all  doubt  one  of  the  most 
valuable,  of  tliose  little  books,  that  have  been  issued  for  the  purpose  of 
euggftstmg  themes  of  daily  meditation  to  Christians.  A  passage  is  fur- 
nished for  each  day  in  the  year,  and  an  appropriate  divisii  n  of  the  passage 
is  suggested  as  the  foundation  of  thought,  to  which  is  appended  an  appro- 
priate stanza." — Baptist  Record. 

"  It  is  a  charming  little  volume." — Boston  Recorder, 


THE  YOUNG  COMMUNICANT: 

An  Aid  to  the  Right  Understanding  and  Spiritual  Improvement 

of  the  Lord's  Supper.  , 

"A  work  of  this  character  has  been  much  needed,  especially  by  the 
young  members  of  our  churches." — Oh.  Rejlector. 

"An  exceedingly  interesting  and  instructive  little  volume."— CAris- 
tian  Watchmmn. 

"A  timely  little  volume,  just  when  we  needed  it.  We  know  of  no 
present  to  the  young  Christian  more  timely  and  valuable  than  this." — 
Norwich  Spectator. 

"A  book  of  choice  practical  matter,  a  little  gem." — Boston  Cultivator. 


THE  CASKET  OF  FOUR  JEWELS, 

FOR  YOUNG  CHRISTIANS. 

Containing,  Apollos— Growth  in  Grace— The  Golden  Censer— and  the 

Christian  Citizen.    By  John  A.  James,  Jonathan  Edwards, 

and  John  Harris,  D.  D. 

*•  These  Jewels  are  truly  'pearls  of  great  price/  compacted  in  a  neat 
and  beautiful  casket.  Spiritual  Chrisiians  have  exan.ined  these  jewels 
separately,  and  expressing  high  admiration  of  their  individual  precious- 
ness,  have  desired  to  possess  them  in  a  form  less  perishable  and  more 
worthy  of  their  excellence." — Salem  Gazette. 

18 


THE  BIBLE  AND  THE  CLOSET; 

Or,  how  we  may  read  the  Scriptures  with  the  most  spiritual  profit. 

By  Thomas  Watson. — and  Secret  Prayer  successfully  managed, 

By  Samuel  Lee,     Edited  by  Rev  John  O.  Choules. 

**This  class  of  publications  supply  the  most  striking  deficiency  in  the 
practical  religious  literature  of  the  day.  Here  are  rich  views  of  scriptural 
illustration  and  of  religious  sentiment,  buried  in  the  tomes  of  the  six- 
teenth and  seventeenth  centuries,  and  it  is  a  good  service  to  the  church 
of  the  nineteenth  to  reopen  those  mines.  Our  neophytes  need  it,  and 
our  ministerial  corps  may  find  models  which  can  be  most  profitably  imi- 
tated."— Mr.  Kirk's  Letter. 

THE  MARRIAGE  RING; 

OR,    HOW    TO    MAKE    HOME    HAPPY. 

From  the  writings  of  John  Angell  James. 

"It  is  a  precious  little  work,  calculated  alike  to  improve  the  morals 
and  promote  the  happiness  of  the  domestic  hearth." — Southern  Whig. 

"A  beautiful  little  volume,  and  composed  of  lessons  of  sound  wisdom 
and  useful  instruction." — Boston  Recorder. 

"  This  is  a  charming  little  keepsake  which  every  young  married  couple 
ought  to  possess.  It  gives  a  most  satisfying  account  of  the  nature  and 
duties  of  married  life.  It  makes  '  mutual  aiiachment'  the  indispensable 
basis  of  the  marriage  state,  raising  its  eloquent  little  voice  against  any 
attempts  to  unite  in  marriage  those  who  are  influenced  only  by  worldly 
motives,  selfish  aims,  or  considerations  of  woildly  honor.  We  commend 
this  Utile  book  to  all  young  men  and  women  who  expect  ever  to  be  blest 
in  marriage;  and  we  wish  the  ministers  who  lake  it  upon  them  to  join 
these  young  men  and  women,  would  see  that  the  uninitiated  have  in  their 
possession  this  safe  and  useful  little  guide." — Nortcich  Spectator. 

LYRIC     GEMS. 

A  COLLECTION  OF  ORIGINAL  AND  SELECT  SACRED  POETRV. 
Edited  by  Rev.  S.  F.  Smith. 

"But  this  is  an  exception.  We  have  read  nearly  every  one,  a  circum- 
stance rather  extraordinary  in  case  of  a  collection;^  but  the  good  taste 
here  exhibited  has  charmed  us,  and  disposes  us  strongly  to  recommend 
the  work  to  others." — Baptist  Advocate. 

"  It  is  appropriately  named  '  Gems,'— not  the  least  brilliant  of  which 
are  the  contributions  of  the  editor  \\\mse\V— Christian  Secretary. 

THE  CYPRESS  WREATH: 

A  BOOK  OF  CONSOLATION  FOR  THOSE  WHO  MOURN. 
Edited  by  Rev.  Rufus  W.  Griswold. 

"This is  a  most  beautiful  and  judicious  selection  of  prose  and  poetry, 
from  the  most  popular  authors,  inierspersed  with  select,  passages  from 
Scripture,  designed  especially  for  the  mourner.  When  the  hand  of  death 
has  separated  the  bond  of  union  existing  between  a  parent  and  child,  a 
wife  and  husband,  or  a  brother  and  sisterrthe  mind  naturally  turns  away 
in  disgust  from  the  delusive  phantoms  of  happiness  which  the  world  af- 
fords, and  feels  the  need  of  the  heavenly  Comforter.  It  was  with  a  view 
of  furnishing  the  mind,  while  in  a  stale  like  this,  and  while  he  was  him- 
self a  mourner,  that  Mr.  Griswold  prepared  the  Cypress  Wreaih.  It  is 
not  necessary  to  say  that  he  has  lurnished  a  book  exactly  adapted  to  the 
purpose  for  which  it  is  designed,  for  the  character  and  talents  of  the  au- 
thor are  too  well  known  to  admit  of  a  contrary  opinion." 

19 


A  NEW  GUIDE  FOR  EMIGRANTS  TO  THE  WEST. 

By  John  M.  Peck,  of  Illinois. 

*'  We  earnestly  wish  this  most  excellent  work  was  in  the  hands  of  those 
hundreds  of  Emigrants,  who  are  now  about  town,  and  intend  to  go  '  West.* 
The  advice  and  information  contained  in  these  three  hundred  and  seven- 
ty-four pages,  are  really  invaluable,  and  if  attended  to,  would  save  an  im- 
mense amount  of  time,  trouble,  and  last,  not  least,  money.  The  author 
may  be  depended  upon ;  having  had  every  opportunity  lor  gathering  facts 
and  knowledge  on  the  subject." — N.  Y.  Messenger. 

"  The  merits  of  the  '  Guide  for  Emigrants,'  published  some  years  since, 
are  well  known.  The  present  volume,  however,  contains  many  improve- 
ments on  the  former  work,  and  embraces  many  additional  facts  in  relation 
to  the  Slates  and  Territories  lying  in,  and  bordering  on,  the  Great  Valley 
of  the  Mississippi,  which  render  it  not  only  exceedingly  valuable  to  the 
emigrant  or  man  of  business,  who  may  be  induced  to  visit  that  portion  of 
the  country,  but  all  who  are  desirous  of  gaining  information  relative  to  the 
soil,  climate,  productions,  and  character  and  pursnits  of  the  people  who 
reside  in  the  Great  YdUey."— Mercantile  Journal. 

SELF-EXAMINATION: 

OR,  PLAIN  QUESTIONS  FOR  PROFESSORS  OF  RELIGION. 
By  a  Pastor. 

ESSAY  ON  THE  DIVINITY  OF  CHRIST. 

By  D.  Van  db  Wynpersse,  D.  D. 

.      TRAVELS  OF  TRUE  GODLINESS. 

By  Rev.  B.  Keach.    A  Memoir  of  his  Life,  by  Howard  Malcom,  A.  M. 

FEMALE  SCRIPTURE  BIOGRAPHY. 

With  an  Essay  on  what  Christianltyhas  done  for  Women. 
By  Rev.  F.  A.  Cox. 

HELP  TO  ZION'S  TRAVELLERS. 

By  Rev.  Robert  Hall,  with  a  Preface,  by  Rev.  Dr.  Ryland. 
Edited  by  Rev.  J.  A.  Warne. 

THE  THEATRE. 

In  its  Influence  upon  Literature,  Morals,  and  Religion. 
By  Rev.  R.  Turnbull, 

THE  PRINCIPLE  OF  CHRISTIAN  UNION. 

By  Rev.  William  Hague. 

20 


IDr.  j|  arris's  iUorks. 


Probably  no  writer  of  modern  times  has  so  much  engaged  the  public 
mind  as  Dr.  Harris.  All  his  works  have  been  favorably  received,  eX' 
tensively  reviewed,  and  both  the  style  and  spirit  highly  recommended. 

MISCELLANIES  ; 

CONSISTING  PRINCIPALLY  OF  SERMONS  AND  ESSAY'S. 

By  J.  Harris,  D.  D.    With  an  Introductory  Essay 

and  Notes,  by  Joseph  Belcher,  D.  D. 

THE  GREAT  COMMISSION; 

The  Christian  Church  constituted  and  charged  to  convey  the  Gospel  to 

the  World.    With  an  Introductory  Essay,  by 

Rev.  Wm.  R.  Williams,  D.  D. 

Fourth  Thousand, 

THE  GREAT  TEACHER; 

Or,  Characteristics  of  our  Lord's  Ministry.    With  an  Introductory 

Essay,  by  Heman  Humphrey,  D.  D. 

Ninth  Thousand. 

MAMMON; 

Or,  Covetousnegs  the  Sin  of  the  Christian  Church.    A  Prize  Essay. 
Seventh  Thousand. 

UNION; 

Or,  the  Divided  Church  made  One. 
Second  Thousand. 

ZEBULON; 

Or,  the  Condition  and  Claims  of  Sailors.    The  Prize  Essay,  written  for 

the  British  and  Foreign  Sailors'  Society.    American  Edition. 

Edited  by  Rev.  William  M,  Rogers  and  D.  M.  Lord, 

Third  Thousand. 

THE  CHRISTIAN  CITIZEN; 

Paper,  gilt  eilges. 

THE   GOLDEN  CENSER; 

Or,  a  Visit  to  the  House  of  Prayer.    Paper,  gilt  edges. 


ilTusic  Books. 


COMPANION  FOR  THE  PSALMIST. 

CONTAINING    ORIGINAL    MUSIC, 

Arranged  for  Hymns  in  "The  Psalmist,"  of  peculiar  character  and  metre; 

and  to  most  of  which  no  tunes  found  in  the  collectionsnow  in  use  are 

adapted.    By  N.  D.  Gould,  Teacher  of  Music,  and  Editor  of  the 

"The  Sacred  Minstrel,"   "Church  Harmony,"  "Sabbath 

School  Harmony,"  "  Social  Harmony,'*  &c. 

This  work  is  designed,  and  the  music  has  been  written,  expressly  to 
meet  the  wants  of  those  who  use  The  Psalmist.  It  is  adapted  tothe  nu- 
merous beautiful  hymns  of  peculiar  metre,  which  are  embraced  in  that 
collection,  few  of  which  are  to  be  found  in  other  Hymn  Books,  and  to 
none  of  which  have  any  tunes  been  hitherto  adapted.  They  are  simple, 
and  suitable  for  either  private,  social,  or  public  devotion. 

It  will  at  once  be  seen  that,  as  the  words  and  music  are  not  only  adapt- 
ed to  each  other,  but  are  placed  together  on  the  same  page  the  work 
must  be  of  very  great  convenience  to  Singing  Choirs  where  The  Psalm- 
ist is  used.  The  work  contains  thirty-two  common  size  music  pages, 
bound  with  neatly  printed  paper  covers.    Price  $1  60  per  dozen. 

THE  SABBATH  SCHOOL  HARMONY. 

Containing  appropriate  Hymns  and  Music  for  Sabbath 
Schools,  Juvenile  Singing  Schools,  and  Family 
Devotion.    By  N.  D.  Gould. 
"The  work  before  us  is  got  up  in  a  very  convenient  and  attractive  form. 
It  contains  about  fifty  tunes,  and  seventy-five   hymns.    The  music  is 
most  of  it  original,  and  of  that  style  and  character,  which,  long  experi- 
ence in  teaching  has  satisfied  the  author  is  best   calculated  to  interest 
not  only  children,  but  personsofmaturer  age,  when  learning  to  sing.    The 
hymns  appear  to  be  selected  with  peculiar  taste  and  care,  and,  for  Sab- 
bath School  purposes,  of  such  variety,  as  to  require  no  other  hymn  book. 
We  e.specially  'commend  this  little  work  to  the  notice  of  Sabbath  School 
teachers,  believing  it  to  be  the  best  work  for  Sabbath  Schools  now  before 
the  public." 

THE  SACRED  MINSTREL; 

A  Collection  of  Church  Music,  consisting  of  Psalm  and  Hymn  Tunesy 

Anthems,  Sentences,  Chants,  &c.,  selected  from  the  most 

popular  productions  of  nearly  one  hundred 

dilfereni  authors  in  this  and  other 

countries.    By. N.D.Gould. 

NATIONAL   CHURCH   HARMONY, 

Containing  Tunes  calculated  for  Public  Worship,  Anthems  and 

Sleect  Pieces  for  Fasts,  Thanksgivings,  Christmas, 

Missionary  Meetings.  &c.     By  N.  D.  Gould, 

New  stereotype  edition. 

WINCHELL'S    WATTS. 

Enlarged,  being  an  arrangement  of  all  the  Psalms  and  Hymns  of 
Dr.  Watts.    With  a  Supplement. 

HYMNS  FOR  THE  TESTRY  JJND  FIRESIBE. 

A  choice  Collection  of  about  four  hundred  hymns. 

22 


®l)e  illisstonarj)  €nktpxxst. 


It  has  been  well  said,  that  "  to  imbue  men  thoroughly  with  the  mission' 
ary  spirit^  we  must  acquaint  them  intimately  with  the  m.issionary  enter' 
prise."  The  spirit  oj"  missions  seems  everywhere  to  be  increasing.  The 
circulation  of  sprinted  documents,  and  other  like  efforts^  are  giving  a 
new  impetus  to  the  cause. 

The  following  valuable  works  contain  just  the  kind  of  information 
needed.    Let  every  one  purchase  and  read  them. 

THE  GREAT  COMMISSION. 

Or  the  Christian  Church  constituted  and  charged  to  convey  the  Gospel  to 

the  World.    By  Rev.  John  Harris,  D.  D.,  author  of  •  Mammon,' 

'Great  Teacher,'  &c.    With  an  Introductory  Essay,  by 

Wm.  R.  Williams,  D.  D.,  of  New  York. 

Fourth  Thousand. 

Jl^This  work  was  written  in  consequence  of  the  offer  of  a  prize  of  two 
hundred  guineas,  by  several  prominent  individuals  in  Scotland,  for  the 
best  essay  on  ''The  duty,  privilege,  and  encouragement  of  Christians 
to  send  the  gospel  of  salvation  to  the  unenlighioned  nations  of  tiie 
earth.'*  The  "adjudicators  (David  Welsh,  Ralph  Wardlaw,  Henry  Mel- 
ville, Jabez  Bunting,  Thomas  S.  Crisp)  state  "■  \.\\diX.  forty-two  essays 
were  received,  and,  after  much  deliberation,  the  essay  of  Dr.  Harris  was 
placed  ^rs^  They  were  influenced  in  their  decision  by  the  sentiment, 
style,  and  comprehensiveness  of  the  essay,  ana  by  the  general  adaptation 
to  the  avowed  object  of  the  prize." 

fi;;^Thi3  work  has  received  the  highest  commendation, 

MEMOIR  OF  ANN  H.  JUDSON, 

Late  Missionary  to  Burmah,  including  a  history  of  the  American  Baptist 
Mission  in  the  Rurman  Empire.    By  Rev.  James  D.  Kkowles. 
A  new  edition.     With  a  continuation  of  the  Histo- 
ry down  to  the  present  year. 

"  We  are  particularly  gratified  to  perceive  a  new  edition  of  the  Me- 
moirs of  Mrs.  Judson.  She  was  an  honor  to  our  country— one  of  the 
most  noble  spirited  of  her  sex.  It  cannot,  therefore,  be  surprising,  that 
so  many  editions,  and  so  many  thousand'copies  of  her  life  and  adven- 
tures have  been  sold.  The  name — the  long  career  of  suffering— the  self- 
sacrificing  spirit  of  the  retired  country-girl,  have  spread  over  tJ  e  whole 
world;  and  the  heroism  of  herapostleship  and  almost  martyrdom,  stands 
out  a  living  and  heavenly  beacon  fire,  amid  the  dark  midnight  of  ages, 
anu  human  history  and  exploits.  She  was  the  first  icoman  who  resolved 
to  become  a  missionary  to  heathen  countries." — Americari  Traxtlltr. 

"This  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  pieces  of  female  biography  which 
has  ever  come  under  our  notice.  No  quotation,  which  our^limits  allow, 
would  do  justice  lo  the  facts,  and  we  milst  therefore  refer  our  readers  to 
the  volume  itself.  It  ought  to  be  immediately  added  to  every  family 
library." — London  Miscdlany. 

23 


MEMOIR  OF  WM.  CAEEY,  D.  D. 

Forty  Years  a  Missionary  in  India.    By  Eustace  Carey.    With  an 

Introductory  Essay,  by  Francis  Wayland„D.  D. 

With  a  Likeness. 

^C^i^During  the  forty  years  which  Dr.  Carey  labored  in  the  missionary 
cause,  he  was  instrumental  in  the  publication  of  212,000  volumes  of  the 
Scriptures  in  forty  different  languages,  embracing  the  vernacular  tongues 
of  ai  least  27,000,000  of  the  human  race,  besides  performing  other  labors, 
the  enumeration  of  which  would  seem  almost  incredible. 


MEMOIR  OF 

GEORGE  DANA   BOARDMAN. 

Late  Missionary  to  Burmah,  containing  much  intelligence  relative  to 

the  Burman  Mission.     By  Rev.  Alonzo  King.     A  New  Edition. 

With  an  Introductory  Essay,  by  a  distinguished  Clergyman. 

Embellished  with  a  Likeness;  a  beautiful  Vignette, 

representing  the  baptismal  scene  just  before 

his  death;  and  a  drawing  of  his  Tomb, 

taken  by  Rev.  H.  Malcom. 

&3°°In  noticing  the  lamented  death  of  Mr.  Boardman,  Mr.  Judson,  in 
one  of  his  letters,  thus  speaks  of  his  late  worthy  co-worker  on  the  field 
of  Burmah:  "Oneof  ihe  brightest  luminariesof  Burmah  is  extinguished, 
— dear  brother  Boardman  is  gone  to  his  eternal  rest.  He  fell  gloriously  at 
the  head  of  his  troojip,  in  the  arms  of  victory, — thirty-eight  wild  Karens 
having  been  brought  into  the  camp  of  king  Jesus  since  the  beginning  of 
the  year,  besides  the  thirty-two  that  were  brt)ught  in  during  the  two 
preceding  years.  Disabled  by  wounds,  he  was  obliged,  through  the  whole 
last  expedition,  to  be  carried  on  a  litter;  but  his  presence  was  a  host, 
and  the  Holy  Spirit  accompanied  his  dying  whispers  with  almighty  in- 
fluence. Such  a  death,  next  to  that  of  martyrdom,  must  be  glorious  in 
the  eyes  of  heaven.  Well  may  he  rest,  assured,  that  a  triumphal  crown 
awaits  him  on  the  groat  day,  and  '  Well  done,  good  and  faithful  Board- 
man,  enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord.' " 

From  Rev.  Baron  Stow. 
"No  one  can  read  the  Memoir  of  Boardman.  without  feeling  that  the 
religion  of  Christ  is  suited  to  purify  the  affections,  exalt  the  purposes, and 
give  energy  to  the  character.  Mr.  Boardman  was  a"man  of  rare  excellence, 
and  his  biographer,  by  a  just  exhibition  of  that  excellence,  has  rendered 
an  important  service,  not  only  to  the  cause  of  Christian  missions,  but  to 
the  interest  of  persona]  godliness.  Baron  Stow." 

"The  author  had  a  fine  opportunity  for  making  an  interesting  book  ;  and 
in  the  execution  he  has  done  ample  justice,  alike  to  himself  and  to  his  in- 
teresting subject.  This  memoir  belongs  to  that  class  of  books,,  which  may 
be  read  with  interest  and  profit  by  every  one.  It  comprises  so  much  i»f 
interesting  history,  so  much  of  simple  and  pathetic  narrative,  so  true  to 
nature,  and  so  much  of  correct  moral  and  religious  sentiment,  that  it  can- 
not fail  to  interest  persons  of  all  ages  and  of  every  variety  of  taste.  It 
should  have  a  place  in  every  family  library,  and  especially  in  all  Sabbath 
school  libraries." — Christian  Watchman. 

24 


THE  KAEEN  APOSTLE; 

Or^  Memoir  of  Ko  Thah-Byu,  the  first  Karen  convert,  with  notices 

concerninff  his  Nation.    With  maps  and  plates.    By  the 

Rev.  Francis  Mason,  Missionary.    American 

edition,.  Edited  by  Prof.  H.  J.  Riplky, 

of  Newion  Theol.  Institution. 

*  Second  Thousand. 

El3~This  is  a  work  of  thrilling  interest,  containing  the  history  of  a 
remarkable  man,  and  giving:  also,  much,  information  respecting  the 
Karen  Mission,  heretofore  unknown  in  this  country.  It  must  be  sought 
for,  and  read  with  avidity  by  those  interested  in  this  most  interesting 
Mission.  It  gives  an  account,  which  must  be  attractive  from  its 
novelty,  of  a  people  that  have  been  but  little  known  and  visited  by 
missionaries,  till  within  a  few  years.  The  baptism  of  Ko-Thah  Byu,  in 
1828,  was  the  beginning  of  the  mission,  and  at  the  end  of  these  twelve 
years,  twelve  hundred  and  seventy  Karens  are  officially  reported  as 
members  of  the  churches,  in  good  standing.  The  mission  has  been 
carried  on  pre  eminently  by  the  Karens  themselves,  and  there  is  no 
doubt,  from  much  touching  evidence  contained  in  this  volume,  that 
they  are  a  people  peculiarly  susceptible  to  religious  impressions.  The 
account  of  Mr.  Mason  must  be  interesting  to  every  one. 

"Perhaps  no  nation,  recently  discovered,  has  attracted  or  deserved 
more  general  interest  than  the  Karen.  All  will  be  delighted  to  read  the 
memoir  of  one,  who  united  with  the  common  characteristics  of  his 
countrymen  such  an  extraordinary  degree  of  zeal,  ef  perseverance,  and 
success,  in  the  propagation  of  the  gospel  which  he  himself  first  received 
in  faith  and  in  love." — Baptist  Advocate. 

"  It  is  a  valuable  addition  to  the  volumes  now  multiplying,  which  bear 
testimony  to  the  valuable  character  and  results  of  the  missionary  work." 
— Christian  Intelligencer. 

"This  work  will  be  read  with  interest,  showing,  as  it  does,  the  power 
of  the  gospel  upon  a  degraded  people,  and  the  rich  blessings  it  confers 
upon  the  heathen,  both  as  it  respecis  this  life  and  the  life  to  come.  What 
can  be  more  interesting  to  a  Chriplian  mind,  than  to  see  the  darkness 
which,  by  nature,  broods  over  the  human  mind,  dispelled  by  the  light  of 
the  gospel,  and  a  benighted  spirit  guided  to  a  world  of  eternal  day.  A 
striking  instance  of  this,  the  memoir  presents.  It  also  shows  how  the 
gospel  can  raise  up  an  individual  from  the  depths  of  wretchedness  and 
crime,  and  make  him,  thousrh  possessed  of  small  natural  abilities,  a  rich 
blessinerto  his  fellow- men."— FerwowZ  Chronicle. 

"It  is  an  interesting  little  volume,  and  gives  a  vivid  picture  of  the 
influence  of  the  Christian  relisrion  in  taming,  subduing,  and  elevating 
a  rough  and  darkened  mind.  The  historical  notices  of  the  Karen  people 
we  have  read  with  pleasure." — Bangor  Courier. 

"This  volume  abounds  in  that  kind  of  interest  which  belongs  to  per- 
sonal narrative;  and  the  effect  of  good  teaching  upon  'new  minds/  is 
admirably  illustrated." — Philadelphia  U.  S.  Gazette. 

MALCOM'S  TRAVELS  IN  SOUTH-EASTERN  ASIA, 

Embracing  Hi  ndastan,Malaya,Siam,  and  China;  with  notices  of  numerous 
missionary  stations;  and  a  full  account  of  the  Burman  Empire; 
with  Dissertations,  Tables,  &c.    In  two  volumes, 
beautifully  illustrated.    Sixth  edition. 
By  Rev.  Howard  Malcom. 
|l3='The  work  has  received  the  highest  commendation  from  the  press; 
and  the  best  proof  of  the  estimation  in  which  it  is  regarded,  is  in  the  un- 
exampled sale  of  I  he  work.     Near  four  thousand  copies  were  sold  within 
one  year  from  its  first  appearance.    In  its  mechanical  execution  it  sur- 
passes any  similar  work  ever  attempted  in  this  country. 

c  25 


"A  CHURCH  WITHOUT  A  BISHOP." 


APOSTOLICAL  AND  PRIMITIVE  CHURCH; 

Popular  in  its  Form  of  Government,  and  Simple  in  its  Mode  of 

Worship.    By  Lyman  Coleman,  of  Andover,  Author  of 

*'  Christian  Antiquities."    With  an  Introductory 

Essay,  by  Dr.  Augustus  Neander, 

Berlin,  Germany.     1  vol.  12mo. 

D3°"  An  important  and  very  interesting  work.    Just  published. .=C33 

From  the  Bibliotheca  Sacra,  Vol.  2,  No.  2. 

"This  is  the  title  of  a  new  work  upon  our  table  from  the  pen  of  one  who 
enjoys  a  high  reputation  in  this  country  and  in  Europe.  Appearing 
from  such  a  source,  at  this  time,  and  devoted  to  such  topics  as  are 
indicated  in  its  title,  it  can  hardly  fail  of  attracting  much  more  atieniion 
than  is  usually  accorded  to  publications  of  a  similar  kind.  Many,  we 
are  sure,  will  feel  that  this  unpreteniiing  duodecimo  goes  far  toward 
supplying  a  very  obvious  deficiency  in  our  ecclesiastical  history. 

'■  Most  of  the  topics  upon  which  Mr.  Coleman  touches  in  this  volume 
have  indeed  been  ably  handled  by  others.  But  some  such  book  as  this 
was  yet  needed,  as  a  convenient  manual  for  frequent  use,  as  a  repository 
of  the  results  to  which  patient  and  extended  investigation  will  lead,  and 
as  a  guide  to  sources  of  information  with  Which  some  are  not  very 
familiar  and  which  many  have  not  the  requisite  time  thoroughly  to 
explore  for  themselves.  There  are  some  cardmal  points  on  the  subject 
of  church  polity  which  ought  to  be  clearly  expounded  in  a  popular  and 
attractive  form,  not  so  much  for  the  benefit  ef  the  few  as  of  the  many. 
Unlettered  men,  and  even  some  who  are  called  men  of  letters,  need  to  be 
enlightened  and  fortified,  in  this  way,  against  the  pretensions  of  error. 

*'  We  are  free  to  express  the  opinion  that  Mr.  Coleman  has  done  more 
than  any  other  writer  toward  meeting  the  wants  of  the  churches  in  this 
respect.  His  book  is  decidedly  better  adapted  than  any  other  with  which 
we  are  acquainted  to  take  this  place  in  our  libraries;  he  has  brought 
together  much  valuable  and  well-authenticated  information,  and  has 
presented  the  whole  in  an  acceptable  form. 

'•  Mr.  Coleman  was  well  qualified  lo  write  on  the  topics  here  discussed, 
by  the  studies  in  which  he  had  been  zealously  engaged  for  several  years, 
and  which  as  embodied  \n  his  Christian  Antiquities  have  already  gaijied 
him  a  high  reputation  both  at  home  and  abroad.  He  has  written,  loo,  in 
the  present  case,  under  the  most  favorable  circumstances,  having  had 
access  to  the  best  original  authorities,  and  being  favored  with  the  person- 
al counsel  of  the  first  ecclesiastical  historian  of  the  age  His  production 
shows  convincingly  that  none  of  these  facilities  have  been  neglected, 
He  has  evidently  spared  no  pains  to  make  his  treatise  answer  the  high 
expectations  which  his  learning  and  advantages  justified  us  in  entertain- 
ing with  regard  to  it. 

*' The  chapter  on  'The  Equality  of  Bishops  and  Presbyters'  in  the 
primitive  churches,  is  one  of  the  best  specimens  of  convincing  cumulat  ive 
argumentation  upon  this  topic  with  which  we  have  ever  met.  The 
success  with  which  he  has  traced  'the  rise  of  PJpiscopacy,'  through  its 
various  stages,  is  complete.  The  disasters  which  belel  the  churches  in 
consequence  of  this  revolution  in  their  goveri-ment  are  well  detailed. 
And  every  petition  which  is  taken  is  so  amply  fortified  by  the  best 
authoritie.s.  that  the  work  cannot  be  read  without  profit,  or  answered 
without  difficulty." 


ANTIOCH; 


OR,  INCREASE  OF  MORAL  POWER  IN  THE  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST. 

By  Rev.  P.  Church.    With  an  Introductory 

Essay,  by  Rev.  Baron  Stow. 

"Here  is  a  volume  which  will  make  a  greater  stir  thon  any  didactic 
work  that  has  been  issued  /or  many  a  day.  It  is  a  book  of  close  and  con- 
secivtivs  thought,  and  treats  of  subjects  which  are  of  the  deepest  inter- 
est, ai  the  present  time,  to  tlie  churches  of  this  country.  The  author  is 
favorably  known  to  the  religious  public,  as  an  original  thinker,  and  a 
forcible  writer,— his  style  is  lucid  and  vigorous.  The  Introduction,  ly 
Mr.  Stow,  adds  much  to  the  value  and  attractions  of  the  volume."— CAr, 
Reflector. 

"  By  some  this  book  will  be  condemned,  by  many  it  will  be  read  with 
pleasure,  because  it  analyzes  and  renders  tangible,  principles  that  have 
been  vaguely  conceived  in  many  minds,  reluctantly  promulgated  and  hesi- 
tatingly believed.  We  advise  our  brethren  to  read  the  book,  and  judge 
for  Ihem^eUes-"— Baptist  Record. 

"It  is  the  work  of  an  original  thinker,  on  a  subject  of  great  practical 
interest  to  the  church.  It  is  replete  with  suggestions,  which,  in  our 
view,  are  eminently  worthy  of  consideration."— PAzV.  Chr.  Cbserrer. 

"This  is  a  philosophical  essay,  denoting  depth  of  thinking,  and  great 
originality.  *  *  *  He  does  not  doubt,  but  asserts,  and  carries  along  the 
matter  with  his  argument,  until  the  difference  of  opinion  with  which  the 
reader  started  with  the  writer  is  forgotten  by  the  former,  in  admiration  of 
the  warmth  and  truthfulness  of  the  latter."— PAiV.  U.  S.  Gazette. 


PENTECOST, 


OR,  THE  SOLE  EFFICIENCY  OF  CONVERTING  THE  WORLD. 

By  Rev.  P.  Church,  author  of  "Antioch." 

Contents — Evangelical  Enterprise — Scale  on  which  to  graduate  Man's 
Efficiency  in  it.  Part  I.  Nature  of  the  Energy  which  the  Believer  is  to 
expect  from  Christ.  Part  2.  The  Forms  under  which  this  Heavenly  En- 
ergy manifests  itself.  Part  3.  Means  ©f  securing  enlarged  Measures  of 
this  Energy  upon  ourselves. 

"One  desire  in  the  writer  predominates  overall  others;  that  Christians, 
generally,  may  rise  to  a  just  appreciation  of  the  unspeakable  blessings 
treasured  up  for  them  in  Christ;  that  all  men  may  see  the  riches  of  the 
glory  of  his  inheritance  in  the  saints." 


THE    CICERONIAN; 

OR    THE 

PRUSSIAN  METHOD  OF  TEACHING  THE   LATIN  LANGUAGE. 
Adapted  to  the  Use  of  American  Schools. 

By  B.  Sears. 

27 


CHURCH  DISCIPLINE ; 

The  Scripture  Doctrine  of  Church  Order  and  Government. 

By  Rev.  Warham  Walker,  Homer,  N.  Y. 

On6  volume.     ISmo.    Cloth. 

tl3"  ^  timely  and  very  useful  work. 

Contents — Introduction. — Church,  definition  of  the  term — Constitu- 
tion of  the  Churches— First  Christian  Church,  in  its  incipient  State — 
The  Church  at  Jerusalem— The  Church  at  Antioch— Organization  of  the 
Churches — Government  of  the  Churches— The  True  Idea  of  Church  Disci- 
pline. Part  I.  Formative  Church  Discipline. — Terms  of  Church  Mem- 
bership—Importance and  necessity  of  Maintaining  Formative  Discipline 
—Formative  Measures.  Part  2.  Corrective  Church  Discipline— Power 
of  the  Churches  to  Maintain  Corrective  Discipline— Limitations  of  the 
Power  of  Disi'.ipline — Obligation  of  the  Churches  to  Maintain  Corrective 
Discipline — Objects  of  Corrective  Discipline — Spirit  in  which  Corrective 
Discipline  should  be  conducted— The  Law  of  Corrective  Discipline — 
Offences  demanding  Corrective  Discipline— The  Process  of  Corrective 
Discipline — The  First  Admonition — The  Second  Admonition — The  Final 
Act  of  Disci  pline— Treatment  of  the  Excommunicated — Restoration  of  the 
Penitent— Conclusion. 

The  following  recommendatory  noteg  from  individuals  residing  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  Author,  were  received  by  the  Publishers  with  the  manu- 
script of  the  work. 

From  the  Professors  in  Hamilton  Literary  and  Theol,  Institution. 

"We  have  carefully  perused  the  most  important  parts  of  the  manu- 
script, and  the  result  has  been  highly  gratify mg.  The  work  is  charac- 
terized by  great  sobriety  and  caution.  We  believe  the  views  it  presents  . 
to  be  scriptural;  and  that  where  they  are  not  supported  by  the  direct  and 
and  positive  declaration  of  the  word  of  God,  they  are,  at  least,  sustained 
by  the  general  spirit  of  the  teachings  of  Christ  and  his  apostles.  Such  a 
work  as  this,  we  think,  is  greatly  needed;  it  is  well  adapted  to  pr«mote 
correct  views  and  uniformity  of  practice  in  relation  to  the  subject  of 
which  it  treats.  We  cordially  recommend  it  to  the  careful  perusal  of  the 
members  of  our  churche.<=i.  J.  S.  Maginnis, 

Hamilton,  Nov.  6,  1843.  T.  5'.  Con  ant, 

A.  C.  Kendrick." 

From  the  Editor  of  the  N.  Y.  Baptist  Register. 
"I  have  just  had  the  privilege  of  hearing  the  principal  part  of  Professor 
Warham  Walker's  work  on  Church  Discipline.  The  subject  is  presented 
in  a  clear  and  beautiful  style,  and  in  accordance  with  the  sacred  oracles; 
and  the  instruction  conveyed  is  much  needed  at  the  present  lime,  when 
young  converts  are  so  numerous  and  so  imperfectly  acquainted  with  duty 
in  this  matter,  and  with  the  proper  manner  of  discharging  it.  The  author 
is  well  known  in  this  State,  as  a  writer  of  great  force  and  elegance,  and 
any  thing  he  undertakes  is  done  with  fidelity  and  effect. 

Utica^Nov.  7,  1843.  Yours,  truly,        A.  M.  Beebeb.'* 

"  We  are  truly  gratified  at  the  Issue  of  this  publication.  A  work  of  this 
kind  has  been  greatly  needed  In  our  churches,  and  its  appearance  will  be 
warmly  welcomed,  we  believe,  by  thousands.  The  subject  is  one  involv- 
ing many  difficult  and  debateable  questions,  and  it  will  be  strange  indeed 
if  it  satisfies  all  parties,  in  the  execution,  equally  well.  But  from  looking 
at  the  general  plan,  and  reading  several  pages,  we  are  inclined  to  believe 
that  it  will  meet  with  great  favor.  The  work  originated  in  an  essay  read 
at  a  Ministerial  Conference,  and  was  completed  and  published  by  the  re- 
quest of  the  brethren  composing  that  conference.  It  is  issued  in  a  neat 
style;— a  volume  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-six  pages."- CAr.  Rejector. 

28 


THE   PSALMIST: 

A  NEW  COLLECTION  OF  HYMNS   FOR  THE   USE  OF 
THE  BAPTIST  CHURCHES. 

BY   BARON    STOAV   AND    S.    F.    SMITH. 

This  work  contains  nearly  twelve  huvdred  Hymvs,  original  and  select* 
etl,  together  with  a  collection  of  Chants  and  Selections  for  Chanting. 

Surprising  as  it  may  appear  to  those  who  are  aware  of  the  great  diversity 
of  opinion  and  tastes  every  where  existing  in  reference  to  hymns  best 
suited  to  public  worship,  this  new  collection  meets  with  almost  universal 
favor.  Its  rapid  introduction  into  churches  in  various  parts  of  the  coun- 
try; the  numerous  testimonials  of  approval  and  high  commendation  daily 
received,  in  connection  with  the  acknowledged  ability  of  the  editors;  the 
uncommon  facilities  enj<iyed  by  them,  of  drawing  from  the  best  sources  in 
this  and  other  countries;  the  great  care  with  which  the  compilation  has  been 
made;  the  new,  convenient,  and  systematic  plan  of  arrangement  adopted, 
give  the  publishers  full  confidence  in  the  superior  merits  of  the  work. 

In  addition  to  the  protracted  labor  of  the  editors,  the  proof-sheets  have 
all  been  submitted  to  a  Committee,  composed  of  clergymen  of  high  stand- 
ing, in  different  parts  of  the  Union,  by  whose  critical  examinations  and 
important  suggestions  the  value  of  the  work  has  been  greatly  enhanced. 

All  of  Watts's  Hymns,  possessing  lyrical  spirit,  and  suited  to  the  wor- 
ship of  a  Christian  assembly,  are  inserted;  and  a  large  number  of  hymns 
heretofore  unknown  in  this  country  have  been  introduced.  The  distinc- 
tion of  psalms  and  hymns,  usually  made  in  other  collections,  has  been 
avoided  in  this,  and  all  have  been  arranged  together,  under  their  appro- 
priate heads,  and  numbered  in  regular,  unbroken  succession.  There  are 
four  valuable  Indexes, — a  'General  Index'  of  subjects,  a  'Particular  In- 
dex.' an  '  Index  of  First  Lines,'  and  an  extended  'Scripture  Index.' 

Notice  of  the  A  m.  Bap.  Publication  and  S.  S.  Society,  Vhiladelphia. 

The  Board  of  Directors  of  the  A.B.  P.  and  S.  S.  Society,  induced  by  the 
numerous  and  urirent  calls  which,  for  a  long  time,  have  been  made  from 
various  sections  of  the  country,  for  a  new  collection  of  Hymns  that  should 
be  adapted  to  the  wants  of  the  churches  generally,  resolved,  in  the  year 
1841,  to  take  immediate  measures  for  the  accomplishment  of  this  object. 
With  this  view,  a  committee,  consisting  of  Rev.  W,  T.  Brantly.  D.  D.,  of 
South  Carolina,  Rev.  J.  L.  Da?g,  of  Alabama,  Rev  R.  B.  C.  HowelU  of 
Tennessee.  Rev.  S  W.  Lynd,  1).  D..  of  Ohio,  Rev.  J.  B.  Taylor,  of  Virginia, 
Rev.  S.P.Hill,  of  Maryland.  Rev.  G.  B.  Ide  and  R.  AV.  Griswold,  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  Rev.  W,  R.  Williams,  D.  D..  of  New  York,  was  appointed 
to  prepare  and  superintend  the  proposed  selection.  It  was,  however,  sub- 
sequently ascertained  that  a  similar  work  hati  been  undertaken  by  Messrs. 
Gould,  Kendall  &  Lincoln,  Publishers,  of  Boston;  and  that  Rev.  B.  Stow 
and  Rev.  S.  F.  Smith,  whose  services  they  had  engaged,  had  already  com- 
menced their  labor.  From  the  well-known  ability  of  these  gentlemen, 
there  seemed  good  reason  to  expect  a  valuable  collection,  and  one  that 
would  fully  nieet  the  end  which  the  Board  contemplated.  In  order,  there- 
fore, to  avoid  the  unnecessary  multiplication  of  Hymn  Books,  it  was 
deemed  expedient  by  the  Board  to  unite,  if  possible,  with  the  above- 
mentioned  Publishers.  Accordingly,  the  manuscript  of  Messrs.  Stow  and 
Smith  having  been  examined,  and  found  quite  satisfactory,  arrangements 
were  made  to  have  the  proof  sheets  as  they  were  issued  from  the  press, 
submitted  to  the  committee  of  the  Board,  with  the  understanding,  that  if, 
after  such  alterations  and  improvements  as  might  be  suggested,  it  should 
meet  their  approval,  the  Board  would  adopt  it  as  their  own.  This  ap- 
proval having  been  obtained,  the  Board  voted,  unanimously,  to  adopt  and 
publish  the  work,  and  have  negotiated  with  Gould.  Kendall  &  Lincoln,  to 
that  effect.  Signed  by  order  and  on  behalf  of  the  Board, 

J.  M.  Peck,  Cor.  Sec.  Am.  Pub.  S.  S.  Soc. 
c*  29 


Certificate  of  the  Committee  appointed  by  the  Am.  Baptist  Publication 
and  Sunday  School  Society. 
The  undergisrned,  having  been  requested  by  the  Board  of  Directors  of 
the  Am.  Bap.  Publication  and  S.  S.  Society  to  examine  the  prooof  sheets 
of  *'The  Psalmist."  edited  by  Rev.  B.  Stow  and  Rev.  S.  F.  Smith,  and  to 
suggest  such  emendations  as  might  seem  expedient  to  render  the  work 
more  acceptable  to  the  churches  throughout  tiie  country,  hereby  certify,  ' 
that  they  have  performed  the  service  assigned  them,  and  unite  in  recom- 
mending the  work  as  one  well  adapted  to  the  purpose  for  which  it  was 
designed.  William  R.  Williams,    James  B.  Taylor, 

George  B.  Ide,  Jno.  L.  Dagg, 

RuFUs  W,  Griswold,       W,  T.  Brantly, 
Stephen  P.  Hill,  R.  B.  C.  Howell, 

Samuel  W.  Lynd. 
United  Testimony  of  Pastors  of  Bap.  Churches  in  Boston  and  vicinity. 
Messrs  Gould,  Kendall  &  Lincoln,— Permit  us  to  take  this  method 
of  expressing  our  great  satisfaction  with  the  Collection  of  Hymns  which 
you  have  of  late  published  for  the  use  of  the  Baptist  denomination.  As 
Pastors,  we  have  long  felt  the  need  of  some  book  different  from  any  which 
could  be  obtained,  and  we  have  looked  forward  with  interest  to  the  time 
when  your  proposed  work  should  be  issued  from  the  press.  The  work  is 
now  completed,  and  before  the  public;  and  from  an  attentive  and  careful 
examination  of  its  pages,  we  are  prepared  to  give  it  a  hearty  recommenda- 
tion. It  is  clear  in  its  arrangement,  sound  in  doctrine,  rich  in  senti- 
ment, sweet  and  beautiful  in  its  poetry,  and,  in  our  opinion,  most  admirably 
adapted  to  the  wants  of  the  denomination.  We  cannot  but  hope,  there- 
fore, that  it  will  soon  be  adopted  by  all  our  churches. 

Daniel  Sharp,  T.  F.  Caldicott,        Nicholas  Medbery, 

R.  W.  Cushman,        W.  H.  Shailer,         J.  W.  Parker, 
R.  H.  Neale,  H.  K.  Green,  Bradley  Miner, 

William  Hague,        Silas  B.  Randall,    J.  W.  Olmstead, 
Robert  Turnbull,    Thomas  Driver,       Joseph  Banvard, 
Nath'l  Colver,         Duncan  Dunbar,     Thos.  D.  Anderson. 
Prom  the  Professors  in  Neioton  Theological  Institution. 
Union  of  judgment  in  regard  to  all  the  principles  which  should  regulate 
the  preparation  of  a  HymnTBook,  both  as  to  the  character  of  the  hymns, 
and  as  to  the  omission  and  alterations  in  the  case  of  selected  hymns  that 
have  long  been  in  use,  is  not  to  be  expected.     We  are  free,  however,  to 
say,  that  in  copiou.sness  of  subject,  in  adaptation  to  the  various  occasions 
of  worship,  in  devout  and  poetic  character,  and  m  general  excellence,  we 
regard  the  work  as  eminently  superior  to  collections  now  in  common  use. 
Barnas  Sears.  Pres.  and  Prof.  Christian  Theology. 
Irah  Chase,  Prof.  Ecclesiastical  History. 
H.  J.  Ripley,  Prof  Sacred  Rhetoric  and  Pastoral  Duties. 
H.  B.  Hackett,  Prof  Bib  Literature  and  Interpretation. 
Testimony  of  a  Committee  of  the  Faculty  of  Hamilton  Literary  and 
Theological  Institution. 
Messrs.  Gould,  Kendall  &  Lincoln,— The  undersigned  have  been  ap- 
pointed, by  ihe  Faculty  of  our  Institution  a  Committee  to  examine  the 
Hymn  Book,  entitled  "The  Psalmist,"  recently  published  by  you,  and 
edited  by  Rev,  B.  Stow  and  Rev.  S.  F.  Smith.     It  gives  us  pleasure  to 
state,  as  the  result  of  our  examination,  that  we  consider  the  work  decided- 
ly superior  to  any  similar  collection  with  which  we  are  acquainted.    Its 
materials  are  drawn  from  the  best  sources  of  sacred  lyrical  poetry  in  our 
language;  the  arransrement  ij  eminently  happy;  and  the  variety  of  its  se- 
lections adapts  it  to'  almost  every  occasion.     We  think  the  adoption  of 
the  work  in  the  Baptist  churches  of  our  country  would  be  calculated  greatly 
to  elevate  that  interesting  branch  of  worship  with  reference  to  which  it  is 
prepared.        A.  C.  K end  rick,  Prof  Greek  Lan.  and  Literature, 
J.  S.  Maginnis,  Prof  Biblical  Theology. 
T.  J.  Conant,  Prof  Heb.  ^  Bib.  C r it.  ^  Interpretation. 
J.  H.Raymond,  Tut.Intel.SrMor.Philoa.Sf  Belles-lettres. 
^  30 


United  Testimony  of  the  Pastors  of  Baptist  Churches  in  Philadelphia 
and  vicinity. 
We,  the  undersigned,  Pastors  of  the  Baptist  Churches  in  the  city  of 
Philadelphia,  and  its  vicinit>,  having  examined  "The  Psalmist,"  a  new 
Hymn  Book  for  the  use  of  the  Baptist  Churches,  edited  by  Rev.  Messrs. 
B.  iStow  and  S.  F.  Smith,  published  by  the  Am.  Bap.  Pub.  S.  S.  Society, 
and  Gould,  Kendall  &  Lincoln,  Boston,  most  cordially  express  our  con- 
viction that  it  is  decidedly  superior  to  any  other  Hymn  Book  with  which 
we  are  acquainted.  In  arrangement,  it  is  very  natural;  in  doctrine,  it  ia 
sound  and  peculiarly  evangelical;  in  its  selection  of  hymns  upon  every 
important  subject,  it  is  very  copious  and  judicious;  while  there  is  a  va- 
riety that  characterizes  no  other.  Its  lyrical  excellence  places  it  far 
above  all  other  compilations,  and  makes  it  a  delightful  companion  for  the 
Christian,  in  private  and  domestic,  as  well  as  public  worship.  We  shall 
regard  that  as  a  happy  era  in  the  churches  of  our  denomination,  when  it 
ehail  be  universally  adopted  by  them. 

,    George  B.  Ide,  Horatio  G.  Jones, 

J.  Lansing  Burrows,    Thos.  O.  Lincoln, 
A.  D.  Gillette,  F.  Ketcham. 

RECOMMENDATIONS    OF   ASSOCIATIONS   AND    CONVENTIONS. 

Boston  Baptist  Association^  1843. 

^Vhereas,  for  some  time  past,  we  have  felt  the  need  of  a  new 
collection  of  hymns,  for  the  use  of  our  churches  in  their  public 
worship  5  and  whereas,  the  new  work  entitled  ^  The  Psalmist,' 
edited  by  two  brethren  connected  with  this  body,  supplies  this 
need,  and  answers  admirably  the  end  for  which  it  was  designed, 
therefore  Resolved,  That  in  our  opinion,  The  Psalmist  is  worthy  the 
patronage  of  the  Baptist  denomination^  and  we  cordially  recom- 
mend its  adoption  in  all  our  churches i 

Miami  {Ohio),  Baptist  Association,  1843. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  report  upon  a  Hymn  Book,  have 
attended  to  the  duty  assigned  them,  and  report  the  fbllowing  as 
their  views.  For  several  reasons,  the  Committee  recommend  to 
the  attention  of  the  churches,  the  new  work  called  '  The  Psalmist,' 
as  worthy  of  special  patronage.  1.  It  is  exceedingly  desirable  that 
our  whole  denomination  should  use  in  the  praises  of  the  sanctuary 
the  same  psalms,  hymns,  and  spiritual  songs.  To  secure  uniform- 
ity, we  prefer  '  The  Psalmist,'  because  it  is  strictly,  and  from  the 
foundation  designed  for  the  use  of  Baptist  churches, — is  not  sur- 
passed by  any  Hymn  Book  in  the  world, — and  the  proprietorship 
IS  wholly  Baptist,  by  which  the  greatest  facilities  can  be  furnished 
for  its  introduction  to  the  churches,  and  the  perpetuity  of  its  pub- 
lication. 2.  It  has  been  prepared  with  the  greatest  care.  In  no 
instance  has  a  Hymn  Book  gone  through  so  thorough  a  revision  j 
and  the  influence  which  is  rationally  exerted  in  its  favor  by  the 
Committee  of  revision, — by  the  known  qualification  of  the  editors, 
by  the  popularity  of  the  Boston  publishers,  and  by  the  fact  that  it 
is  connected  with  the  series  of  the  Am.  Bap.  Pub.  Society, — will 
necessarily  give  it  an  ultimate  circulation  greater  than  that  of  any 
other  similar  work  in  the  churches.  3.  It  is  a  book  of  very  supe- 
rior merits,  and  probably  will  not  need  any  important  emendation 
for  a  long  period  to  come.  The  Committee  therefore  recommend 
to  the  churches  the  adoption  of  this  work  as  well  calculated  to  ele- 
vate the  taste  and  the  devotion  of  the  denomination. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

S.  W.  Lynd,  Chairman. 
31 


Philadelphia  Baptist  Association,  1843. 
Resolved,  That  we  request  the  attention  of  the  churches  to  The 
Psalmist,  a  hymn  book,  approved  by  a  large  committee  of  distin- 
guished Baptist  ministers,  in  various  parts  of  the  United  States. 

Portsmouth  {N.  H.),  Baptist  Association,  1843. 
Resolved,  That  we  highly  approve  of  The  Psalmist,  prepared  by 
Brethren  Stow  and  Smith,  and  recommend  its  adoption  in  all  our 
churches. 

Illinois  Baptist  State  Convention,  1843. 
Resolved,  That,  after  an  examination  of  the  Hymn  Book  com- 
piled by  Messrs.  Baron  Stow  and  S.  F.  Smith,  we  can  cheerfully 
recommend  it  to  the  denomination  as  being  superior  to  any  other 
work  of  the  kind  ever  before  published,  and  advise  its  adoption  and 
use  among  the  churches. 

Huron  {Ohio),  Baptist  Association,,'iS43. 
Among  the  resolutions  adopted,  was  one  recommending  the  new 
Hymn  Book  published  by  the  Am.  Baptist  Publication  Society, 
Philadelphia,  and  Gould,  Kendall  &  Lincoln,  Boston. 

Munroe  {N.  Y.),  Baptist  Association,  1843. 
Resolved,  That  we  recommend  to  the  several  churches  of  tliis 
Association,  for  their  adoption,  the  Hymn  Book  recently  prepared 
by  brethren  Baron  Stow  and  S.  F.  Smith,  called  '^  The  Psalmist," 
as  being  in  our  estimation  the  choicest  selection  of  hymns  extant, 
and  well  adapted  to  promote  the  objects  of  Christian  worship. 

Bethel  {Tenn.),  Baptist  Association,  1843. 
The  committee  on  Hymn  Books  reported  as  their  choice, ''  The 
Psalmist."    The  report  having  been  received,  the  Hymn   Book 
was  adopted,  and  recommended  to  the  churches. 

Kennebec  (Me.),  Baptist  Association,  1843. 
Voted,  That  we  recommend  to  those  churches  who  are  intend- 
ing to  supply  themselves  with  new  Hymn  Books,  to  purchase  *  The 
Psalmist,'  recently  prepared  by  He  v.  Baron  Stow  and  Rev.  S.  F. 
Smith  ;  this,  in  the  estimation  of  those  who  have  examined  it,  being 
the  best  Hymn  Book  in  the  English  language. 

EDITORIAL    NOTICES   AND    REVIEWS. 

From  an  extended  notice  in  the  Christian  Review, 
The  Psalmist  was  originated  under  circumstances,  and  from  a 
source,  which  give  it  a  claim  to  our  respect  and  attention.  Both 
the  editors  and  publishers  of  the  book  are  so  well  and  favorably 
known  to  the  religious  community,  that  their  motives  in  this  under- 
taking will  not  be  called  in  question.  We  hazard  little  in  saying, 
that  it  is  the  best  collection  of  hymns  ever  published  in  the  English 
language.  They  have  been  drawn  from  the  best  sources,  and 
probably,  from  a  greater  number  of  authors  than  those  in  any 
other  hymn  book  extant. 

The    Psalmist   contains    1180   hymns,  besides   doxologies   and 
chants.    Of  the  hymns,  303  are  by  Dr.  Watts^  or  about  one  quarter 

32 


of  the  whole  collection.  Next  to  Watts,  are  Doddridge,  57  hymns  3 
Mrs.  Steele,  ^%]  Beddome,  41 ;  Montgomery,  33 ;  S.  F.  Smitl^26 ; 
Kelly,  17;  John  Newton,  16  ;  Charles  Wesley,  12;  Toplady,  Sten- 
nett  and  Cowper,  10  each  ;  Heber,  8 ;  CoUyer  and  Hefjinbotham,  7 
each ;  Bowring,  Mrs  Barbauld,  Dwight,  Fawcett,  and  Mrs.  Sigour- 
ney,  6  each ;  Hart,Hawes,  Needham,  and  Scott,  5  each ;  Addison, 
Bathurst,  Fellows,  Gibbons,  Hemans,  Kippis,  Tappan,  Reed,  and 
H.  K.  White,  4  each  ;  Conder,  Ednieston,  Judson,  T.  Moore,  Noel, 
Raffles,  Swain,  and  Wrangham,  3  each ;  thirty-two  other  authors,  2 
each;  and  ninety,  1  each.  The  hymns  are  by  161  writers,  besides 
pieces  credited  to  fifty  collections  of  hymns  or  other  works,  the 
authorship  of  which  is  unknown.  Forty -five  are  anonymous,  being 
traced  neither  to  author  nor  collections. 

The  order  of  the  book  is  clear  and  natural,  a  due  respect  being 
paid  to  the  several  subjects  of  religious  worship.  We  question 
whether  it  would  be  possible  to  arrange  a  collection  of  hymns  in 
better  order.  The  numerous  objects  of  Christian  benevolence 
have  created  a  necessity  for  a, much  greater  variety  of  hymns  than 
was  formerly  needed  ;  and  of  which  no  book  in  use  furnished  the 
requisite  number.  The  Psalmist  meets  this  deficiency,  particularly 
in  hymns  upon  the  subject  of  missions,  the  number  of  which  is  76, 

The  hymns  in  The  Psalmist  are  of  convenient  length  ;  most  of 
them  containmg  four,  and  some,  but  two  or  three  verses.  The 
preacher  using  this  book,  will  seldom  find  it  necessary  to  abridge 
a  hymn, — a  service  always  unpleasant  to  him,  and  disagreeable  to 
the  congregation.  The  variety  of  metres  is  good  3  we  do  not  see 
how  it  could  be  improved. 

As  a  specimen  of  book-manufacturing.  The  Psalmist  is  deserving 
of  great  praise.  It  is  printed  with  beautiful  type,  on  clear,  white 
paper,  is  strongly  bound,  opens  easily,  and  may  be  read  with  com- 
fort, by  old  and  young.  It  would  be  not  less  gratifying  than  ad- 
vantageous for  the  churches  of  this  country,  could  they  unite  in 
adopting  the  same  hymn  book  for  public  worship. 

The  editors  have  accomplished  a  noble  work,  for  which  they 
deserve  not  only  the  thanks  of  our  own  churches,  but  of  all  lovers 
of  true  devotional  psalmody. 

From  the  Christian  Reflector,  Boston. 
We  have  before  referred  to  the  new  hymn  book,  entitled  "  The 
Psalmist."  We  have  since  given  it  a  more  careful  examination, 
and  we  cannot  withhold  from  it  our  unqualified  praise.  Winchell's 
Watts  has  a  great  many  excellent  hymns,  and  will,  doubtless,  con- 
tinue to  be  used  by  many  churches  ;  but  the  volume  contains  many 
hymns  that  cannot  be  given  out  to  be  sung,  with  any  propriety 
whatever;  and  these  are  in  the  way,  and  embarrass  a  minister  in 
making  his  selections.  We  have  other  compilati^no  *n  use  which 
contain  many  of  the  best  hymns  extant.  The  Psalmist  surpasses 
them  all,  in  the  select  character  of  all  its  hymns.  Not  one  can  be 
regarded  as  inappropriate  to  public  worship.  The  good  old  hymns 
are  all  there,  and  many  most  beautiful  new  ones.  Those  from  the 
pen  of  S.  F.  Smith,  are  surpassingly  excellent.  The  book  is  ad- 
mirably arranged,  neatly  printed,  and  well  bound.  It  cannot  fail 
of  becoming,  sooner  or  later,  the  standard  hymn  book  of  the  de- 
nomination. It  is  to  be  introduced  into  .all  parts  of  the  United 
States. 


From  the  Christian  Watchman,  Boston. 

This  volume  impresses  us  as  being  very  complete.  The  editors 
seem  to  have  been  more  solicitous  to  make  a  good  book,  than  a 
new  book.  The  reader  will  find  that  a  majority  of  the  pieces  are 
such  as  have  long  been  familiar  to  his  ear  in  our  devotional  assem- 
blies. We  should  have  been  sorry  to  have  found  it  otherwise. 
The  hymns  of  Dr.  Watts  take  the  lead.  All  his  pieces  are  inserted 
which  possess  lyrical  spirit,  and  are  suited  to  a  Christian  assembly. 

We  need  say  nothing  upon  the  need  of  a  new  hymn  book.  Had 
Winchell's  Watts,  which  has  now  been  in  use  in  these  parts  near- 
ly a  quarter  of  a  century,  been  made  as  perfect  as  it  were  possible 
at  the  time  to  make  it,  we  should  at  this  period  need  a  new  book. 

From  the  Musical  Visiter,  Boston. 
''The  Psalmist,"  a  new  collection  of  Hymns,  for  the  use  of  the 
Baptist  churches,  by  Baron  Stow  and  S.  F.  Smith,  is  just  out,  in  a 
beautiful  style,  on  good  paper,  and  handsomely  bound.  It  has  four 
Indexes,  one  of  the  first  lines,  one  general  and  one  particular  index 
of  subjects,  and  a  Scripture  index.  Having  examined  the  book,  we 
are  satisfied  that  besides  many  more,  it  has  three  great  excellences, 
viz.,  the  hymns  are  generally  short,  having  about  four  verses,  very 
many  three,  and  about  as  many  of  two  as  of  six,  and  a  few  of  five 
verses.  Another  excellence  is,  the  variety  of  subjects,  well  adapted 
to  these  last  days.  Another  is,  the  highly  literary,  and  yet  plain 
and  beautiful  style  of  the  language.  This  is  truly  a  literary  gem, 
besides  being  a  sweet '  Psalmist '  for  the  church  of  Christ. 

From  the  Christian  Secretary,  Hartford. 

We  are  no  great  sticklers  for  changes  and  innovations  in  the 
church,  by  the  introduction  of  new  books,  new  instruments  of 
music,  &c.,  it  having  ever  been  more  congenial  to  our  taste  to 
walk  in  the  *'  old  paths."  We  must  say,  that  The  Psalmist,  just 
published,  presents  claims  to  the  denomination  not  to  be  found  in 
any  other  work  of  the  kind.  There  is  one  merit  in  this  hymn  book 
which  we  are  glad  to  find,  viz.,  it  is  not  divided  into  parts,  as  in  the 
case  with  Winchell's  Watts.  Another  is,  that  the  hymns  are  of  a 
suitable  length  for  Divine  worship,  few  of  them  exceeding  six 
verses,  and  in  most  cases  not  exceeding  four. 

After  a  somewhat  careful  examination,  we  have  been  led  to  tlie 
conclusion,  that  this  Hymn  Book  possesses  qualities  over  every 
other  of  the  kind  that  we  are  acquainted  with,  which  entitle  it  to 
a  place  in  every  Baptist  pulpit  in  the  country. 

From  the  Religious  Herald,  Richmond,  Va, 
It  has  evidently  been  compiled  with  much  care,  and  comprises 
a  sufficient  variety  of  hymns  for  all  the  purposes  of  worship.  The 
missionary  department  is  very  full,  containing  some  original  hymns, 
and  others  which  have  not  heretofore  appeared  in  our  hymn  books. 
Throughout  the  book,  original  compositions,  with  hymns  not  here- 
tofore met  with  in  our  selections,  and  of  modern  origin,  are  inter- 
spersed with  those  long  known  and  familiar  to  the  public.  The 
work  deserves  high  praise  for  its  purity  of  style  and  expression. 
It  has  great  and  deserved  merit,  and  as  a  whole  is  not  only  well 
adapted  to  the  object  aimed  at,  but  superior  to  its  predecessors. 


From  the  New  York  Baptist  Register, 
The  Psalmist  is  one  of  tlie  most  delightful  and  complete  books 
of  the  kind  we  ever  had  the  privilege  of  examining.  It  is  the  very 
book  wanted.  The  poetry  is  choice  and  beautiful,  the  sentiments 
are  scriptural,  expressed  with  peculiar  felicity  and  force,  and 
adapted  to  every  variety  of  condition, — there  is  something  for 
every  body  and  every  occasion.  If  it  could  be  introduced  into 
our  churches,  they  could  want  nothing  better. 

From  the  Alabama  Baptist. 
This  work  is  intended  to  be  the  Baptist  Hymn  Book ;  and,  after  a 
careful  and  critical  examination,  we  are  fully  prepared  to  say,  that 
it  really  deserves  to  be  adopted  as  such,  by  the  denomination.  We 
think  it  decidedly  superior  to  any  collection  of  Psalms  and  Hymns 
ever  before  issued  from  the  American  press.  The  compilers, 
themselves,  are  men  of  the  purest  taste,  refined  by  familiar  con- 
verse with  the  most  elegant  writings  of  ancient  and  modern  times, 
and  sanctified  by  the  influences  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  We  earnestly 
commend  The  Psalmist  to  the  attention  of  pastors  and  churches. 
We  believe  it  will  be  introduced  into  the  churches  throughout  the 
United  States.  The  preparation  of  this  work  may  be  regarded  as 
the  act  of  the  entire  denomination,  and  if  it  be  universally  adopted, 
will  greatly  tend  to  produce  uniformity  of  doctrine,  and  church 
order  and  discipline,  through  all  the  churches. 

From  the  Zioii's  Advocate,  Portland,  Me. 
It  is  sometimes  said,  that  editors  are  induced  to  commend  books 
by  the  donation  that  is  usually  made  to  them  of  a  copy  of  the  work. 
But  '  cannot  be  so  in  this  case,  since  we  have,  by  some  means, 
failed  of  receiving  a  copy.  Yet  we  are  willing  to  do  the  publishers 
a  service,  and  our  readers  a  greater  service,  by  cordially  recom- 
mending this  to  those  who  are  purchasing  new  books  We  do  not 
know  any  other  equal  to  it. 

From  Graham's  Magazine,  Philadelphia, 
The  Psalmist  is,  in  our  opinion,  decidedly  the  best  compilation  of 
sacred  lyric  poetry  ever  published  in  this  country.  Its  editors  are 
distinguished  clergymen  of  the  Baptist  church,  and  one  of  them  is 
himself  a  poet  of  no  mean  reputation.  Mr.  Smith's  Missionary 
Hymn,  commencing,  "Yes,  my  native  land,  I  love  thee,"  is  nearly 
as  well  known  as  the  celebrated  lyric  of  Heber,  "  From  Greenland's 
icy  mountains,"  etc.,  and  a  large  number  of  his  pieces,  on  a  variety 
of  subjects,  rank  highamong  the  best  of  their  kind  in  the  language. 

From  Tlie  Macedonian,  Boston. 
It  has  been  prepared  with  the  most  critical  regard  to  the  laws  of 
language  and  poetry,  and  to  the  wants  of  the  church  of  the  present 
age.  It  is  designed  for  use  throughout  the  United  States,  and  was 
accordingly  examined  in  the  proof-sheets,  by  gentlemen  of  known 
ability  and  scholarship,  in  different  parts  of  the  country.  We  refer 
to  it  chiefly  to  express  our  gratification  at  the  extensive  and  ad- 
mirable collection  of  missionary  hymns  which  it  contains.  One  of 
these  we  select,  entitled  "  The  Missionary  Angel,"  was  written  by 
Rev.  S.  F.  Smith. 

35 


EXTRACT  OF  LETTERS  FROM  CLERGYMEIf. 

From  Rev.  Geo,  B.  Ide,  Philadelphia. 

At  the  risk  of  appearing  intrusive,  I  have  taken  my  pen  to  let  you 
know  the  emotion  which  your  new  Hymn  Book,  in  its  beautiful 
dress,  has  excited  in  my  mind.  My  expectations  were  very  highly 
raised  ;  but  the  result  has  more  than  answered  them.  Such  another 
collection  of  hymns  for  public  worship,  so  beautiful  in  its  execution, 
BO  natural,  clear,  and  perfect  in  its  arrangement,  so  varied,  copious, 
and  appropriate  in  its  list  of  subjects,  so  lyrical  in  its  structure,  so 
devotional  in  its  spirit^  so  scriptural  in  its  sentiments,  so  sweet, 
pure,  and  elevated  in  its  poetry,  I  do  not  believe  the  world  can 
furnish,  and  I  am  certain  the  English  language  cannot.  It  is  a 
work,  in  every  respect,  of  such  surpassing  excellence,  as  to  leave 
nothing  in  its  department  to  be  desired.  All  here,  who  have  seen 
it,  are  delighted  with  it.  If  there  be  any  true  taste  in  our  churches, 
it  must  speedily  come  into  universal  use.  Our  own  denomination, 
and  the  Christian  public  generally,  are  under  great  obligations  to 
the  gifted  brethren  who  have  so  successfully  performed  their  task, 
and  to  the  liberal  and  enterprising  publishers,  by  whom  they  were 
employed.  You  will,  I  am  confident,  receive  an  ample  remunera- 
tion for  all  your  expense  and  outlay  And  1  trust,  that  both  you 
and  they  will  enjoy  the  far  higher,  richer  reward,  of  knowing  that 
through  your  united  labors,  the  public  praises  of  God  have  been 
improved,  chastened,  and  rendered  more  edifying  and  refreshing  j 
and  that,  upon  the  return  of  each  holy  Sabbath,  millions  of  saints 
on  earth  are  chanting  the  hallowed  and  inspiring  strains  with  which 
you  have  supplied  them ;  and  thus  preparing  to  join  the  blissful 
choir  and  the  eternal  anthems  of  the  upper  sanctuary. 

Philadelphia,  June,  1843.  George  B.  Ide. 

From  Rev.  John  Dowling,  Providence,  R.  1. 
About  six  years  ago,  the  lamented  James  D.  Knowles,  at  the 
close  of  a  valuable  editorial  article  upon  Church  Psalmody,  in  the 
Christian  Review,  remarked  as  follows :  "  We  repeat  the  expression 
of  our  hope,  that  the  time  may  soon  arrive,  when  a  compilation 
shall  be  prepared,  worthy,  in  its  sentiments  and  poetical  character, 
to  be  adopted  by  the  Baptist  denomination  throughout  this  extend- 
ed republic."  Had  this  gifted  brother  lived  to  examine  The  Psalm- 
ist, 1  cannot  doubt  that  he  would  have  agreed  with  the  writer  of 
these  remarks,  that  the  present  is  just  such  a  work,  and  that  that 
hope  is  completely  realized.  1  f  I  were  to  enumerate  the  excellences 
by  which  I'he  Psalmist  is  distinguished  above  every  other  hymn 
book  with  which  I  am  acquainted,  in  use  among  the  Baptist  de- 
nomination, I  should  say,  1.  There  are  no  hymns,  so  far  as  I  can 
discover,  offensive  to  a  correct  taste,  and  most  of  them  possess  a 
high  degree  of  poetic  excellence.  2.  Every  hymn  may  be  read 
with  propriety  from  the  pulpit.  3.  All  the  hymns  are  adapted  to 
be  sung,  being  properly  lyrical  in  their  character,  and  not  historical 
or  didactic.  4.  Most  of  the  hymns  are  of  a  suitable  length  j  the 
greater  number  consisting  of  not  more  than  four  verses.  5.  The 
unmeaning  division  into  psalms  and  hymns  is  avoided,  and  the 
numbering  of  the  hymns  is  continuous,  thus  avoiding  the  difficulty 
sometimes  experienced,  especially  by  strangers,  in  finding  the 
hymn  that  \s  announced.  J.  Dowling. 

36 


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